International premiere
A Place Called Dignity
Pablo, a 12-year-old boy, receives a scholarship to attend school in the mysterious and isolated Colonia Dignidad established in Chile by German settlers. It seems to be quite a privilege for a kid like him, and he quickly becomes the favourite of the leader of the colony, Uncle Paul. Over time, Pablo witnesses some kind of strange things which happen there and make him act differently than the other students.
Colonia Dignidad was a notorious commune in Southern Chile with a tight relation to Augusto Pinochet regime methods and actions. Chile is one of these countries where the young generation is ready to dig on the history and willing to talk about it. And Colonia Dignidad is one of the darkest shadows of what is still the recent past.
After his beautiful and sensitive (and extremely independent) debut “Root”, Matias Rojas (also based in Southern Chile) sets the story again from the perspective of a kid, innocent and curious, but at the same time already a young adult with his own point of view and capacity to judge what he sees. With a sober style, the director manages to evoke feelings, textures and even smells in the minds of the audience and let them experience the world Pablo is in.
“Colonia Dignidad” is not only a metaphor of a country which wants to be awake to escape a nightmare but it is also a contribution to healing the wounds of the past. It is also a discovery of a director who has a pristine mission and clear talent: to connect and carry the audience to an experience together with Pablo through a powerful story.
Javier Garcia Puerto
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Matías Rojas (snd 1984) on filmirežissöör ja -stsenarist, kes õppis filmi Santiago ülikoolis. Ta on teinud lühi-, dokumentaal- ja eksperimentaalfilme, millega on osalenud ka mitmetel rahvusvahelistel filmifestivalidel. Rojase esimene mängufilm „Root“ (2013) esilinastus San Sebastiani filmifestivalil ja seejärel paljudel festivalidel nagu La Habana, BAFICI, Palm Springs jt. Pärast täispikka filmi lavastas ta lühifilmi „I need to know“ (2015), mille tegemist toetas ja linastust organiseeris Cannesi filmifestivali Director's Fortnight sektsioon. Ta on ka üks Tšiili noori filmitegijaid ühendava filmi „Chile Factory“ (2015) kaasautoreid. „Väärikuse kool“ on tema teine täispikk film.
Raiz (Root, 2013), A Place Called Dignity (2021)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn
