Nation-building has often been a brutal, bloody business, whether it is driven by a private enterprise, a political figure, or a combination of the two. The story at the core of “The Settlers” is no exception, and it is perhaps one of the least known and most violent in the recorded history of the Americas.
“The Settlers” Is a Reminder of An Awful Truth
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The harrowing events narrated in “The Settlers” are based on true events that occurred at the very beginning of the 20th century in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia. José Menéndez, a businessman of Spanish origin, hires Alexander MacLennan, a former British soldier of Scottish origin, to clear up “savages” and create a safe passage through his vast property towards the Atlantic Ocean. This passage would then be used to open commercial connections to make his sheep farming business prosper.
MacLennan then recruits Segundo, a mixed-race Chilean who appears to have natural qualities as a marksman. Later, at Menéndez demand, Bill, an American mercenary from Texas, joins them to help realize the task at hand. Then they embark on the long trek through this rugged territory, where they will indeed encounter Indians, mainly a first nation called the Selk’nam. The events that ensue will be accounted for many years later as part of an investigation conducted by the Chilean government.
Brutal, Beautiful, and Brilliant
“The Settlers” juxtaposes the sheer, majestic beauty of Patagonia with the ugliness of cruel, desperate human behavior. Violence, colonialism, racism, and greed are the currencies of this story, one of the most shameful incidents to ever take place in that part of the world. MacLennan, Bill, and Segundo’s periplus is just one chapter of a larger tale that ended with the near-complete annihilation of the Selk’nam over roughly 10 to 20 years.
Felipe Gálvez, first-time director of “The Settlers,” managed to masterfully render a “revisionist Western” in all its potency. In this unromantic tale, there is no hero, and in some ways, everyone’s a victim of place and circumstance. MacLennan and Bill are all characters with an unspecified troubled past, and Segundo, in turn, is a terrified soul who does not seem to be able to escape the situation. All three are tragic figures painted over a gorgeous background that remains indifferent to the plight.
A Masterpiece on The First Try
I think “The Settlers” is one of the best genre films I have seen in recent years. The story is well structured, the characters are well delineated, the photography is fantastic, and the soundtrack is minimalist and extremely effective. Everything in this movie seems to be carefully crafted to transport you to this time and place. And, trust me, you will be glad not to be there.
To See Is to Feel
“The Settlers” is probably not for the faint of heart, but neither is it for the heartless. It will show how humanity dissolves when men are pushed to their limits. I do not believe you can watch this film and remain indifferent. In fact, “The Settlers” is unsurprisingly sitting at a whopping 94% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes. I think there are several good reasons for this.
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