Debut writer-director Felipe Gálvez asserts himself as a revelatory new cinematic voice with The Settlers, a searing and indelible take on the Western. Blending historical specificity with vivid visual style, this Cannes Un Certain Regard FIPRESCI Prize winner creates a singular immersive vision, arresting in both content and form.
The film follows three horsemen at the turn of the 20th century who embark on an expedition across the Tierra del Fuego archipelago at the behest of a wealthy landowner, tasked with securing his vast state-appointed property. Accompanying a reckless British lieutenant and an American mercenary is mestizo marksman Segundo, who comes to realize, amidst rising tensions within the group, their true mission is to murderously “remove” the indigenous population.
Set against stunning mountain landscapes, Chile’s Best International Feature Film entry to the 96th Academy Awards is a visceral reckoning with national myth and the attendant violence. Painterly yet piercing, this acclaimed frontier epic turns a bold eye to the past, daring to reimagine its depiction in the present and for the future.
Felipe Gálvez (b. 1983) is a Chilean filmmaker, writer and editor based in Paris. The Settlers (2023) is his debut feature. His previous works includes the short film Rapaz (2018), which also premiered in Cannes as part of the Critics’ Week program. His other short films have been awarded by festivals around the world. As an editor, Felipe collaborated with filmmakers such as Marialy Rivas, Kiro Russo and Alex Anwandter, among others.
