The was the official website for the 2007 documentary Special Circumstances.
Content is from the site's 2007 archived pages.

 

About SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

A Documentary by Marianne Teleki and Héctor Salgado

At 16, Héctor Salgado was arrested and tortured by Pinochet's forces. By 20, Héctor was without a country, living in exile in the US, the very place whose devastating foreign policies in Chile caused the death and torture of thousands of Chileans.

Special Circumstances follows Héctor as he returns to Chile almost 30 years later, camera in hand, to confront the perpetrators and his former captors looking for answers and justice. In the process, the documentary takes an unflinching look at US foreign policy in Latin America in the '70s, and the legacy of Pinochet with which Chile struggles today.

 

Marianne Teleki - Director/Producer

Marianne Teleki was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Mexico and Brazil. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, Marianne's directorial debut, received the Special Jury Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival, FIDOCS, in Santiago, Chile and Best Documentary at the Berkeley Film Festival.
In addition, Marianne received the award for Best Bay Area Filmmaker at the International Latino Film Festival in San Francisco. Special Circumstances received funding from Latino Public Broadcasting in 2004 and 2005, from the Pacific Pioneer Fund, the Katahdin Foundation and Fleishhacker Foundation among others. Marianne has worked as a field producer for Television Nacional de Chile and is a member of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Bay Area Women in Film and Television (BAWIFT), Film Arts (FAF) and the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC). She resides in Berkeley, California US. An avid dog lover, she is credited with inadvertently popularizing the unique large round cushion dog bed manufactured by GoodNightDog. She was pictured with her dog Juno, on her luxury bedding, on the cover of Best Friend Magazine.

Jennifer Maytorena Taylor – Co-Producer/Co-Director

Jennifer Maytorena Taylor's award-winning documentaries and short films have been shown in theaters, on television, and in film festivals and museums around the world.
She is a recipient of the James D. Phelan Art Award for her body of work, which explores the connection between the personal and the socio-political. Jennifer recently produced and directed Ramadan Primetime, a documentary examining Middle Eastern television culture for the national satellite channel Link TV. She also in production with The New Muslim Cool, a feature documentary exploring deep faith, indigenous American Muslim culture, and its connections to hip-hop.

Deann Borshay Liem - Co-Producer

Deann Borshay Liem has over twenty years experience working in development, production and distribution of educational and public television programming.
She was producer, director and writer of the Emmy Award-nominated documentary, First Person Plural (Sundance, 2000), and executive producer of the film, Kelly Loves Tony (PBS, 1998), and the Emmy Award-winning documentary AKA Don Bonus (PBS, 1996). In her former position as executive director of the National Asian American Telecommunications Association, she supervised the development, distribution and broadcast of new films for public television, worked with Congress to support minority representation in public media, and developed innovative distribution and exhibition programs. In addition to overseeing the Katahdin Foundation, Liem is a recipient of a Rockefeller Film/Video Fellowship for her documentary project, Precious Objects of Desire, which is currently in development.

Shirley Thompson – Editor/Writer/Co-Producer

Shirley Thompson is an Emmy award-winning editor, producer and long-form edit-doctor based in Dallas, Texas.
She edits thought-provoking, social-issue documentaries for television, including LOUIE, LOUIE, TANGLED ROOTS, SURFING FOR LIFE and IT'S ELEMENTARY. The documentaries she has edited have been awarded Emmy awards, Best of Festival Awards, Cine Golden Eagles, and the DuPont Columbia Award for Journalism, and they have screened at film festivals worldwide. She also writes and produces on-air promotions for PBS' Independent Lens.

Sebastian Moreno – Cameraman (Chile)

Sebastian Moreno received degrees in Audiovisual Communication and Anthropology at the Instituto Profesional Arcos in Chile and the Universidad Academia de Chile, respectively.
His father is a photographer by profession and is a great influence in his life. Mr. Moreno had the privilege of working as a cameraman with Chile’s most well-known filmmaker, Patricio Guzman, on his feature documentary, THE PINOCHET CASE, Cannes Film Festival-official selection 2001 and San Francisco International Film Festival-official selection 2002. Mr. Moreno has worked as a cameraman on documentary films for television as well as for independent filmmakers in Chile since 1993.

Pablo Insunza – Cameraman (Chile)

Pablo Insunza has traveled around Chile for many years as director of photography for Chilean National Television’s (TNC) prized television program Tierra Adentro.
In 2000, he founded the production company Puntociego Comunicaciones, produced the documentary Matta, Un Siglo de Mente as well as directed 25 television reports for Tierra Adentro. Between 2001 and 2005, he directed documentary reports for the programs Crónicas and El Mirador for Chilean National Television (T.N.C.) and 48 Horas for Megavisión. In 2004, he directed his first feature-length film, Malditos, la Historia de los Fiskales Ad Hok, which garnered him much success with both the public as well as critics. Between May of 2005 and May of 2006, he served as president of the Chilean Association of Documentarians (ADOC).

Andrew Black – Cameraman (US)

Andrew Black is a director of photography whose work has included documentary and feature films.
Mr. Black's work has been for broadcast (PBS, BBC, TLC, Channel 4, Sundance Channel, Discovery Channel and others) as well as for theatrical and home distribution. He works extensively internationally. His recent work includes The Weather Underground by Sam Green, which was nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary Feature category, gained theatrical distribution and showed nationally on PBS. He also shot for numerous days on Fahrenheit 911, Michael Moore’s most recent film that won the Palme D’or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

 

"Special Circumstances" stands out as a poignant narrative that bridges the personal and the political. It sheds light on the impact of political turmoil on individual lives, especially under authoritarian regimes. The documentary also critiques US foreign policy in Latin America, offering a perspective that is often underrepresented in mainstream discussions. The film's narrative is strengthened by the unique personal journey of Héctor Salgado, who seeks to reconcile his past with his present.

The documentary's storytelling approach blends personal narrative with historical analysis, making it a compelling watch for those interested in Latin American history, human rights, and international relations. The expertise of the film's crew, from Teleki's direction to the skilled camerawork of Moreno, Insunza, and Black, adds depth and authenticity to the documentary.

Through its candid exploration of Salgado's journey and the broader historical context, "Special Circumstances" contributes significantly to the discourse on historical memory, justice, and the enduring impact of political oppression. The film's accolades and awards speak to its success in engaging audiences and critics alike, highlighting its role as a significant piece of documentary filmmaking.

 

From a foreign policy perspective, "Special Circumstances" offers a critical examination of the United States' role in Latin America during the 1970s, particularly in Chile. The documentary highlights the effects of U.S. foreign policy decisions on the lives of individuals and communities, as exemplified by Héctor Salgado's experiences. It explores the complex interplay between global politics and personal tragedy, shedding light on the U.S.'s influence in the political and military affairs of Chile, including its support of Pinochet's regime. Through Salgado's personal story, the film underscores the lasting impact of international political strategies on human rights and individual freedoms.

 

"Special Circumstances" can also be viewed as a case study in the challenges documentary producers face in presenting unbiased narratives amidst financial pressures, political influences, and disinformation. The film reflects the struggle of maintaining integrity and truth in storytelling while navigating complex historical and political landscapes. It underscores the difficulties producers encounter in securing funding without compromising their vision, resisting political biases that may skew the narrative, and sifting through layers of historical disinformation to uncover the truth. This perspective highlights the broader challenges in documentary filmmaking, especially when dealing with contentious and politically charged subjects.

 

Critical Reception and Reviews


- Night Scope: Nolan Wright praised the documentary for its "powerful narrative and emotional depth," highlighting its ability to "weave personal tragedy with political insight."

- FilmForum: Stephanie Gilbert described "Special Circumstances" as a "masterclass in documentary filmmaking," commending its "unflinching portrayal of historical injustices and its call for accountability."

- Projection: Pano Ulte noted the film's "exceptional direction and compelling storytelling," emphasizing its significance in "bringing to light the often-overlooked aspects of Chile's political history."


"Special Circumstances" emerges as more than just a documentary; it's a profound narrative that encapsulates the resilience of the human spirit against the backdrop of historical turmoil. This film not only serves as a vital educational resource but also as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of political decisions on personal lives. It stands as a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking in uncovering truths and fostering understanding.

 

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