Film Festival builds stronger bonds

By Vatapuia Maiava 06 October 2016, 12:00AM

A celebration was held on Tuesday night at the Tiapapata Art Gallery marked the third Latin America and Spain Film Festival.

Hosted by the Ambassador of Chile to Samoa, Isauro Torres, guests were given a taste of the type of films available at the film festival.

Mr. Torres gave a small snippet of the video enjoyed by Tuesday night’s guests during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

“This film we are about to watch is called No,” he said. “As you can recall in Chile we had a long dictatorship that lasted 17 years and there was a moment where the dictator Pinochet decided that he should move on to expand his government.

“He put up a plebiscite where the option was ‘yes’ to let him continue or ‘no’ as the movie conveys which opposes him.

“So I won’t tell you much about the movie but it’s exciting. The movie shows you a moment in my country when we had to make a decision about voting.

“The ‘no’ option won so Pinochet decided to step down and Chile gained democracy which we have had since 1990.”

The film festival will also help build a better understanding towards our friends from Latin America.

“We encourage you to also watch the films from the ten other countries,” Mr. Torres said.

“It’s an exciting time and it’s a way for all the Latin American countries to try and engage more with the people and the culture of Samoa.”

The night was also an opportunity for both Samoa and Latin America to get a better understanding of one another towards building stronger bonds.

When asked if there were any projects done towards the that bond, Mr. Torres said no but assures everyone that he is looking into it.

“The challenge that we do have in Chile being a developing country, we have a small agency focused on aid,” he said.

“That aid is mostly focused in our part of the world; it’s mostly to Central American countries but I am very eager to expand that.

“In the Caribbean’s the challenge is very similar to here. So we will try extending the project we have there towards those here.

“These are the things that I need to convey to my agency; it’s about time that we start looking into the Pacific particularly through the connection we have through the Rapa Nui Island.”

All in all, Mr. Torres said he is enjoying his time in Samoa.

“I will extend my stay here because I want to visit Savai’I,” he said.

“The three occasions I have been here I have only been in Upolu. I love it here but it’s a promise I made to my wife and high commissioner in New Zealand that we will spend a few days in the big island.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 06 October 2016, 12:00AM
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