The Settlers is now playing in theaters.
The brutal legacy of colonialism runs through Western society and modern civilization. Many stories of frontier adventures are set on land stolen from native populations, with their bloodshed overshadowed and overlooked. Killers of the Flower Moon, a recent American crime epic, and the Chilean drama, The Settlers, both highlight the explicit horrors of the Western genre, shedding light on historical atrocities.
The movie paints a bleak picture of life in Chilean Patagonia at the turn of the 20th century. The story revolves around real-life Spanish land baron José Menéndez, who exploited the region to satisfy his greed. The film introduces us to former British soldier MacLennan, the mestizo Segundo, and the American mercenary Bill, who are coerced into clearing a path for cattle passage to the Atlantic. What follows is a harrowing journey marked by division and mutual utility.
The movie explores the harsh landscape and lawlessness of South America, mirroring a post-apocalyptic world. As the characters encounter a menacing outlaw society on the beach, the movie prompts a philosophical question about land ownership in the absence of a formal jurisdiction.
Filmmaker Felipe Gálvez Haberle uses mythic spaghetti-Western elements to evoke the desolation and violence of colonial expansion. The characters’ actions underscore the dishonor of manifest destiny, portraying them as complicit collaborators in the project of greed. The film made Chile’s official entry for the Best International Feature Oscar, but its brutal portrayal of history might have contributed to its omission from the award’s shortlist.
The Settlers also challenges the narrative of atonement and historical revisionism by highlighting well-meaning crusaders who prioritize their own self-image over truth-telling. Ultimately, the film addresses the issue of who controls historical narratives and for whom they are told.
The film’s unflinching portrayal of historical atrocities and its critique of revisionist retellings make it a thought-provoking commentary on the impact of colonialism and the selective remembrance of history.