morgan-51 Review of Man Facing Southeast

Man Facing Southeast (1986)

Wonderful movie, especially if taken in historical context

[10/10 · 19 February 2000]

I think that the question, "Is he really from outer space?" is irrelevent to the movie--what matters is that the man, Renates, is completely foreign. It's not a feel-good movie, it's a thought-provoking movie, one that brings up the question, why is compassion so foriegn to us, and why do we fear the compassionate? Those with power (the doctors) are so afraid to lose that power that they force their subjects into a forgetful stupor and deny their humanity--just as the military under Videla and the junta tortured over 30,000 people only two decades ago. This film is a brilliant commentary on human nature and modern Argentine history.