The Eternal Memory

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The Eternal Memory

2023

1h 25m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Augusto and Paulina have been together and in love for 25 years. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and his wife has since become his caretaker. As one of Chile's most prominent cultural commentators and television presenters, Augusto is no stranger to building an archive of memory, having been responsible for that herculean task following the Pinochet dictatorship and its systematic erasure of collective consciousness. Now he turns that work to his own life, trying to hold on to his identity with the help of his beloved. Day by day, the couple face this challenge head-on, adapting to the disruptions brought on by the taxing disease while relying on the tender affection and sense of humor shared between them that remains intact.

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Critics Consensus

Telling a deeply personal story against a profound political backdrop, The Eternal Memory offers poignant testament to the power of love and remembrance.

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Linda Holmes

NPR

02/29/2024

The love story of these two, and the way Pauli makes her way through extraordinarily difficult moments in which he is upset or frightened, feels surprising over and over.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

11/13/2023

4/5

A restrained, respectful piece of film-making that takes its lead from its two subjects.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

11/11/2023

3/5

Instructive on cognitive decline, but overall too slight to hit home.

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Philip Bagnall

Loud and Clear Reviews

09/19/2024

3/5

The Eternal Memory is unquestionably moving, and it fulfils its purpose of presenting Alzheimer’s Disease upfront. [...] Yet, by not adequately explaining who this man is, and offering greater context to his suffering, the effort falls short.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

03/15/2024

There's a valid and tender love story here... but it takes the easy way, as while focusing on it, it takes away from questioning the discourse of the lost memory of Chile. [Full review in Spanish]

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Alison Rowat

The Herald (Scotland)

02/27/2024

Every flashback to their well-documented previous lives is a heartbreaker, and as time goes on the picture becomes bleaker still. But what shines through is love, and laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.

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Marika Sparrow

09/05/2023

The most beautiful love story I’ve ever seen!!! Best movie of 2023. Absolute MUST SEE! It will resurrect the faith in love of the most unbelieving

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Eduardo F

08/19/2023

Excellent representation of a drama that many people have to go through with their elders. Pain and anguish are reflected in both of them. Maite did it again!

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Tom F

@RT55173143 04/12/2024

It's hard to be cynical about love when you see this couple look at each other.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 04/07/2024

This observative documentary seems to minimally capture the growing signs of dementia and the struggles that come with it, emphasizing the importance of cherishing lasting memories as sympathetically nuanced buildup after respectfully displaying the persons' profiles. (B)

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Megan e

@RT58906942 02/29/2024

Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking! But even in the hard days, love still exists. Worth watching but make sure you have tissues. 4 stars

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Jonathan K

@aFIREintheattic 02/18/2024

As beautiful as it is sad, watch this when you are feeling tender and have the capacity to view the uncomfortable realities some suffer in their later years. It's an experience told equally from the perspective of someone with Alzheimer's, as from someone who deeply loves him and is his caretaker and witness through it all. There is hardship and humor, sacrifice and connection, mundanity and luminosity.

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Maite Alberdi

Director

Paulina Urrutia

Self

Augusto Góngora

Self

Maite Alberdi

Screenwriter

Maite Alberdi

Producer

Juan de Dios Larraín

Producer

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Synopsis

Augusto and Paulina have been together and in love for 25 years. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and his wife has since become his caretaker. As one of Chile's most prominent cultural commentators and television presenters, Augusto is no stranger to building an archive of memory, having been responsible for that herculean task following the Pinochet dictatorship and its systematic erasure of collective consciousness. Now he turns that work to his own life, trying to hold on to his identity with the help of his beloved. Day by day, the couple face this challenge head-on, adapting to the disruptions brought on by the taxing disease while relying on the tender affection and sense of humor shared between them that remains intact.

Director: Maite Alberdi
Producer: Maite Alberdi, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue
Screenwriter: Maite Alberdi
Distributor: MTV Documentary Films
Production Co: Inmaat Productions, Fabula, Micromundo Producciones, Chicken And Egg Pictures, UTA Independent Film Group
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 2023, Limited
Runtime: 1h 25m