Tierra del Fuego is a 2000 Chilean drama film directed by Miguel Littín. Based on a short story of the same name by Francisco Coloane, it is about the conquest of Tierra del Fuego by Julius Popper. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.
Contents
Plot
The film is set in the late 19th century, when Julius Popper (1857–1893) claims the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego on behalf of Queen Elisabeth of Wied of Romania (also known as Carmen Sylva; 1843–1916). Popper's goal is to search for gold, which he pursues under the motto "civilization or death." He is accompanied by a diverse group of characters from various nationalities, including Armenia, a beautiful prostitute; Spiro, an Italian adventurer; Shaeffer, a loyal German follower of Popper; Novak, an Austrian who serves as the group's general; and Silveira, a Galician bagpipe interpreter. The film also highlights the unknown and rugged nature of the island.
Cast
Jorge Perugorría as Julius Popper
Ornella Muti as Armenia
Tamara Acosta as Mennar
Nelson Villagra as Novak
Álvaro Rudolphy as Schaeffer
Nancho Novo as Silveira
Luis Alarcón as Alexis
Claudio Santamaria as Spiro
Uxía Blanco as Mother Silveira
Omero Antonutti
Héctor Delgado
Mauricio Pesutic
Mateo Iribarren