Stunning Chilean landscapes and artful abstract imagery are the name of the game in Patricio Guzmán’s poetic historical/natural documentary.

With an approach that leans slightly towards style over substance, The Pearl Button is nonetheless a captivating look at the horrors that comprise much of Chile’s recent past. Its minimal, patient and abstractly philosophical take on the subject matter won’t enthrall everyone, but its apparently disparate elements and images add up to a compelling, hypnotic whole.

For those unfamiliar with Chile’s history and landscape, The Pearl Button offers a fascinating glimpse into a strange and beautiful country.

Far from conventional, this gorgeously soundtracked documentary is a treat for filmgoers willing to be engrossed by Malickian imagery rather than the genre’s usual fact- and detail-oriented approach.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Patricio Guzmán

WRITERS: Patricio Guzmán

SYNOPSIS: Chile, with its 2,670 miles of coastline and the largest archipelago in the world, presents a supernatural landscape. This film shows that it also has a voice.