Machuca

Machuca is a 2004 Chilean film written and directed by Andrs Wood. Set in 1973 Santiago during Salvador Allendes socialist government and shortly after General Augusto Pinochets military coup in 1973, the film tells the story of two friends, one of them the very poor Pedro Machuca who is integrated into the elite school of his friend Gonzalo Infante. The social integration project is headed by the director of the school, Father McEnroe.

The film is from the perspective of Gonzalo Infante, a privileged Chilean boy, during a time period in which the lower classes are politically mobilized, demanding more rights and forcing fundamental change. At the same time the upper middle class, including Gonzalos own family, grow fearful of the growing socialist movement and plot against the countrys elected president, Salvador Allende. Gonzalos father, while sympathetic to the poor and not part of the rightwing movement, wants to leave the country to Italy, where he frequently travels for work, to avoid the Socialist policies. Sra. Infante is having an affair with a wealthy older gentleman, who gives Gonzalo gifts to keep him quiet. Gonzalo is sometimes bullied by his sisters boyfriend, who is a violent antiAllende rightwinger who uses nunchucks to intimidate people. The family often buys products off of the black market, due to rationing and shortages.Gonzalo Infante attends a private school where the principal, Father McEnroe, introduces five new, poor students. Gonzalo refuses to bully one of these boys, Pedro Machuca, when encouraged by his peers. The two boys become friends. Infante accompanies Machuca, and Machucas cousin Silvana, as they sell flags at rival political protests. Despite Silvanas initial resentment of Infantes upperclass background, she eventually befriends him and they even exchange kisses. Infante and Machuca visit each others homes, and meet each others families. ........

Source: Wikipedia