Patricio Guzmán’s Nostalgia de la Luz is a documentary that explores the intersection of science, memory, and political trauma of Chile. The Atacama Desert draws a powerful parallel between astronomers who search the skies for light from the past and the women who search the desert sands for the remains of loved ones disappeared during Pinochet’s dictatorship. I love how Guzmán presents the desert as both a literal and metaphorical archive—preserving ancient history, cosmic knowledge, and human suffering. The film discusses Chilean society’s willingness to look outward to the cosmos while refusing to confront its own violent past, highlighting the ethical importance of memory and the pursuit of truth. The film continues that question discussed in Chile, The Obstinate Memory, can Chile prosper without acknowledging its past. Guzman blends science, testimony, and personal reflection in this film and becomes an essay on history’s unresolved wounds and the enduring struggle for justice and remembrance.

Madison Reed