Gaucho Americano (lit. 'American Gaucho') is a 2021 Chilean documentary film directed by Nicolás Molina and written by Molina, Valentina Arango and Paula López.[1] It presents the life of Joaquín and Víctor, 2 gauchos from Chilean Patagonia who find themselves alone in an American ranch to do a job.[2]
The film was named on the shortlist for Chilean's entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards,[3] but it was not selected.[4]
Joaquín and Victor, both gauchos from Chilean Patagonia, are hired as muleteers on a ranch in the United States. Accompanied only by their dogs and horses, they will have to protect their flocks of thousands of sheep from predators, in a foreign land that they believe they can dominate.[5]
Gaucho Americano had its world premiere on April 29, 2021, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[7] It was screened in mid-August 2021 for the first time in Chilean territory at the Santiago International Film Festival.[8][9] It was commercially released on September 8, 2022, in Chilean theaters.[10]
Nikki Baughan from ScreenDaily describes Guacho Americano as a passive and hypnotic documentary that has a lot to say about immigration, rural life, and generational differences. In addition, to highlight the photography work of the director.[11]
Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary | International Spectrum - Best Documentary | Gaucho Americano | Nominated | [12] |
Santiago International Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize - International Feature Length | Nominated | [13] | ||
Santiago International Documentary Festival | National Competition - Best Film | Nominated | [14] | ||
DocsMX: The International Documentary Film Festival of Mexico City | Our America - Best Documentary | Nominated | [15] | ||
2022 | Trento Film Festival | Genziana d'Oro | Won | [16] |