Review of The Eternal Memory (2023) by Bertobellamy — 12 Aug 2023

Maite Alberdi expands her narrative about old age with a heartbreaking story focused on the importance of memory. Taking the ex-journalist Augusto Góngora (diagnosed with Alzheimer's for years) and the actress Paulina Urrutia as study subjects, the Chilean does a simple but forceful reconstruction exercise in which her own protagonists create their own history reflecting on the past.

Alberdi lets Paulina assume something of the role of co-director by interacting with her husband, helping him remember who he is and who she is, which results in funny scenes, but others of absolute sadness; the documentary manages to capture in a very raw way what it means both to not know yourself and to see someone you love little by little disintegrate. The most distressing parts of 'The Father' here are a difficult reality.

Most interesting of all, Alberdi establishes a comparison with the historical memory of a country devastated by a brutal dictatorship, which Augusto and Paulina fought from their respective fronts. As the first said through archival material, memory is not to remain anchored in the past, but to be able to build a better future.

In the end, 'The Eternal Memory' is an absolute demonstration of love that reveals a ray of hope; Paulina will still be there even when Augusto can no longer recognize her, and that is as sad as it is comforting.