Miguel Littin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Littin
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Miguel Littin in 2018
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| Member of the Constitutional Council | |
| In office 7 June 2023 – 7 November 2023 |
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| Constituency | O'Higgins Region (8th) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 August 1942 Palmilla, Chile |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Menz |
| Children | Three |
| Chevalier of Arts and Letters of France, Legion of Honor. Aguila Azteca Condecoration, Mexico. Golden Medal of the Italian Senate. Human Rights Prize, Spain. Two-time Oscar Academy Award-nominated. Two-time Palm d'Or Nominated, Cannes Film Festival. Fipresci winner, Venice Film Festival. Golden Medal, Moscow Film Festival. Occic prize Berlin Film Festival. Prize Ciudad de San Sebastian, Spain. | |
Miguel Ernesto Littin Cucumides (born August 9, 1942) is a famous Chilean film director, screenwriter, film producer, and novelist. He was born in Palmilla, a town in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Miguel Littin is known for making movies that tell important stories about history and people.
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Miguel Littin's Filmmaking Journey
Miguel Littin started his career by directing the film El Chacal de Nahueltoro in 1969. This movie helped him become a key figure in what was called the New Latin American Cinema. This was a movement where filmmakers in Latin America made movies that often talked about social and political issues.
Life in Exile
In 1973, a big change happened in Chile. The government was taken over by a military group, and President Salvador Allende was removed from power. Because of this, Miguel Littin had to leave Chile and live in Mexico. This is called being exiled.
Even though he was far from home, he continued to make important films. His 1973 movie, The Promised Land, was shown at major film festivals. These included the Cannes Film Festival and the Moscow International Film Festival.
Films Made in Mexico
While in Mexico, Miguel Littin directed several notable movies:
- Letters from Marusia: This film was based on a true story about a miners' strike in Chile. It was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, which is a very big honor! It also won nine awards from the Mexican Film Academy.
- El Recurso del Método (Long Live the President): This movie was a team effort with Mexico, France, and Cuba. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
- The Widow of Montiel: This film starred the actress Geraldine Chaplin and was based on a short story by the famous writer Gabriel García Márquez. It was also shown at the Berlin Film Festival.
Making Movies in Nicaragua and Spain
After his time in Mexico, Miguel Littin traveled to Nicaragua. There, he made the film Alsino and the Condor, which was based on a novel by Pedro Prado. This movie also received many awards around the world and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. In 1981, he was chosen to be a judge at the Moscow International Film Festival.
In 1984, Littin moved to Spain. From there, he decided to do something very brave: he secretly went back to Chile. His goal was to make a documentary called "Acta General de Chile." This film showed what life was like in Chile under the military government. The famous writer Gabriel García Márquez even wrote a book about Littin's secret trip, called Clandestine in Chile: The Adventures of Miguel Littin.
His four-hour documentary, "Acta General de Chile," was very successful globally. It won three top awards at the Venice Film Festival.
Return to Chile
Around 1989-1990, he directed "Sandino," a large European film project with well-known actors like Kris Kristofferson.
Eventually, Miguel Littin was able to return to Chile. He continued to make films there, including:
- Tierra del Fuego: This movie was about the adventures of the explorer Julius Popper. It was selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
- Dawson, Isla 10: This film told the story of political prisoners sent to Dawson's Island during the military rule in Chile. It was shown at the Rome Film Festival.
Other Roles
Besides making films, Miguel Littin also served as the mayor of his hometown, Palmilla. He was mayor from 1992 to 1994 and was re-elected for another term from 1996 to 2000.
His films Actas de Marusia and Alsino and the Condor were both nominated for Best Film in a Foreign Language by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the group that gives out the Oscars). Alsino and the Condor also won the Golden Prize at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival.
His 2005 film The Last Moon was shown at the Seattle Film Festival and the Moscow International Film Festival.
Miguel Littin's Films
Here is a list of some of the films Miguel Littin has directed:
- 1969: El Chacal de Nahueltoro (Jackal of Nahueltoro)
- 1971: Compañero Presidente (A documentary film)
- 1973: La Tierra Prometida (The Promised Land)
- 1974: Actas de Marusia (Letters from Marusia)
- 1978: El Recurso del método (Long Live the President)
- 1980: La Viuda de Montiel (The Widow of Montiel)
- 1981: Alsino y el Condor (Alsino and the Condor)
- 1986: Acta General de Chile (A documentary film)
- 1990: Sandino
- 1994: Los náufragos
- 2000: Tierra del Fuego
- 2002: Los Caminos de la Ira; Cronicas Palestinas (Palestinian Chronicles) (A documentary film)
- 2002: El Abanderado
- 2005: La Ultima Luna (The Last Moon)
- 2009: Dawson, Isla 10
- 2014: Allende en su Laberinto (Allende in his Maze)
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Littin para niños
