Juan Caceres: immigrants are just 'perro-bombas' for the Chilean government
This is the story of one Haitian immigrant based in reality. It is also a metaphor for the exploitation that is a way of life in Chile, entrenched in government attitudes. Reform requires replacing a Constitution that was written during the Pinochet dictatorship, with a democratic one.
The film "Perro Bomba" is a timely look into the causes of the current protests in Chile, and the brutal response by the Government.
The main character, Steevens, is a young Haitian immigrant, and the drama kicks off when he hits his boss who racially insulted him. His friend witnessed this but keeps quiet, and Steevens gets thrown out by his own family. Then he discovers that immigrant life without friends can be even harsher, until he joins a group living communally in an abandoned house.
The constant worry about who can be trusted is shown in a scene where a hamburger stall guy says: "I could get someone to steal your phone while still pretending to be your friend and you'd never know." Racism is a constant theme, and other issues that arise involve gender, machismo, and anti-gay prejudice.
Some of the cast had no acting experience, and others are experienced professional actors, who gave their talents and agreed to work without a written script for "Perro Bomba", a film that has won many awards including in Havana, Malaga and Guadalajara.
The Prisma caught up with Juan Caceres, director of "Perro Bomba", after his film was shown at the 10th Latin-American Film Festival in Lisbon.
This interview was published on May 3rd 2021 in The Prisma Multicultural Newspaper and can be read in full with photos here: