The Last Station

"Do they leave us here, or do they throw us away?" wonders Juan, one of the patients in a Chilean nursing home who are featured in this poignant documentary. Virtually cut off from the civilized world, they live out the last days of their lives here. Family has no regard for them anymore, except when the occasional relative shows up to deal with a death. In their directorial debut, Cristian Soto and Catalina Vergara observe the residents in their isolation, capturing both their touching helplessness and their strength. There is Luis, pushing his walker forward as he drags along the lawn chair he likes to sit on. And Dorian, a crutch under each arm, making frantic efforts to get the payphone working. And then Sara, legally blind and searching for the sink by feel. One of the residents has his own radio station and plays nostalgic songs and other recordings he makes for his housemates outside, like the sound of the sea. He also keeps his listeners informed of the latest news - which mostly consists of obituaries. These various portraits of people who have been forgotten by the outside world but still have a very rich inner life are beautifully filmed - every shot is like a painting, with the natural light playing an important supporting role.