The Settlers

Three men embark on an expedition on horseback in this western inspired drama from 1893 Chile. What appears to be an administrative expedition, turns into a bloody affair.

This subdued and intense film debut by director Felipe G Haberle left a strong impression when I saw it at Cannes this year. It's somewhat a Chilean version of Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon and is almost a classic western with the vast and ruthless landscapes of Patagonia – «the end of the world» – serving as the backdrop for a story about white men's tendency to conquer and dominate. The story is told through the eyes of a young man of mixed heritage, who is sent on a bloody mission alongside a half-mad British ex-military soldier and a Texas cowboy to clear a land area inhabited by indigenous people. The film is painful and intense, and it's difficult to comprehend that we, as humans, have carried out such inhumane actions. Everything is conveyed through beautiful and lingering images, enhancing the absurdity of the evil.

Christin Berg

Director

Felipe Gálvez Haberle is a Chilean filmmaker. He studied at the Universidad del Cine in Buenos Aires and has worked as an editor for several years. He is the director of the short films Silencie en la sala (2009), Yo de aquí te estoy mirando (2011), and Rapaz (2018). The Settlers is his feature film debut, premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.

This film is part of