eabakkum Review of Sub terra

Sub terra (2003)

A good film about labor conditions in Chilean mining

[8/10 · 23 October 2010]

The Chilean film Subterra is a good contribution to the global collection of films about labor conditions in mining. By now I have seen a handful, and this one aptly depicts the poverty and primitive circumstances at the private coal mine in Lota. I like the sketch of the local atmosphere, including the accompanying Latin music (classic guitar etc.). It is 1897, and the power of the landowners is still unlimited. They control the army and even the judicial system. This is a clear distinction with Europe, which at that time already had a liberal system of individual judicial (not political) rights. The landowners employ an agent (mr. Davis, a "gringo") to rule the mine and do the dirty exploitation, so that they themselves can pretend to be good Samaritans. The miners want to organize, but they fear the violent revenge of Davis. An old miner organizes regular secret meetings, and strongly advocates the official formation of a miners association. He is a typical union man: right-minded and persevering. However the miners are still in resignation and a drunkard Fernando disturbs the deliberation. In addition there is a traitor among the miners, who in exchange for money briefs the meetings to Davis. In order to intimidate the organizers, Davis transfers one of them to a dangerous and notorious gallery, called the Chifon. Indeed a gas explosion occurs, killing the organizer. Life is so hopeless, that his desperate mother throws herself into a shaft. The events trigger the passions in Fernando, and he sets out to realize the association. He asks the help of the local shop clerk in order to write the request to the notary. This clerk is employed by the mine owner, who uses the truck system. However, the clerk sympathizes with the miners, and even writes a book about their abject living conditions. This part of the film is apparently authentic, since at the time such a book has actually been published. The landowner dies from tuberculosis, and his wife takes over his affairs. She has a goddaughter, named Virginia, who studies in Spain. Virginia returns to Lota, and turns out to be a youth friend of Fernando. Soon the passions between them awaken, which further convinces Fernando to make out his case. The miners march to the landowners wife, and offer a petition with demands for better working conditions (especially less hours). The landowners wife is willing to consider the demands, but nevertheless orders the captain of the local militia to imprison Fernando. Really, it is as simple as that! Virginia is persuaded by her godmother to return to Spain, which leaves the passionate Fernando heartbroken. In addition, the old union man reveals, that Fernandos father was murdered by Davis during an earlier attempt to organize the miners. Here it is obvious that film director Marcelo Ferrari is searching for some extra drama in order to make Subterra more palatable to the audience. In short, Davis is sacked by the landowners wife, and in rage enters the Chifon, where Fernando is working. It just happens that there is again a gas leakage, and Fernando causes a deliberate explosion, killing both himself and Davis. Virginia soon returns to Lota, but it is too late to save the love of her life. However, the Lota miners association has been established. In the concluding title-part we are informed that the Lota mine was soon socialized, and closed a century later. During his operation 2000 miners have died in the galleries. In my opinion the film ranks with similar stories such as Matewan or Germinal, which are all recommended. Personally I would have left out the dramatization with romance and hate, and in fact the documentary Harlan County USA is still my favorite. On the other hand the drama probably helps to attract more audience. It is fascinating to compare Subterra, Germinal and Matewan, because of their cultural differences. The apathy and despair in Subterra and Germinal is striking, whereas in Matewan the miners elicit a gun fight. This suggests militancy with the American miners, but still it did not improve their case. For instance, according to Harlan County USA, in 1975 the safety conditions etc. in American mines were still worse than in the European ones.