Full House Welcomes the Documentary «The Last Journey of Juan Ramón» Premiere at Palacio Rioja in Viña del Mar

Original article: A sala llena se preestrenó largometraje documental «El último viaje de Juan Ramón» en el Palacio Rioja de Viña del Mar

The Aldo Francia Hall at the Palacio Rioja in Viña del Mar hosted the premiere of the documentary «The Last Journey of Juan Ramón,» directed by local filmmaker Rodrigo Piaggio Marchant.

This audiovisual project reconstructs the story of former chief of the Investigation Police in Valparaíso Province, Juan Ramón Bustos Marchant, as well as the extensive search by his family to uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.

It spanned over five decades, allowing the family to challenge and ultimately debunk the narrative established during the dictatorship, which claimed that Juan Ramón Bustos Marchant died by suicide. Through new evidence and various expert analyses, the family’s investigation determined it was, in fact, a homicide.

The documentary chronicles this long journey marked by memory, the pursuit of justice, and the need to reconstruct a family history that remained shrouded in questions for years.

A pivotal moment in this process was the exhumation conducted 15 years ago, followed by three forensic analyses that contributed to clarifying the truth.

Álvaro Inostroza Bidart, director of the Cinema Department at the Viña del Mar Municipality, praised the premiere «for its high testimonial value and as an exercise in memory, highlighting the courage of individuals who acted as constitutionalists and democrats during the 1973 coup.»

«It was very emotional and clearly demonstrated the role of creators in relation to what happens in the country and history, as witnesses and recreators of realities and events we must not forget,» added Inostroza.

The documentary also highlights the intimate dimension of this story and the impact that the search for truth has had on its family members over generations.

This journey culminated in a final and meaningful ceremony held on December 18, 2024, symbolically closing a process that began decades ago.

Guillermo Kegevic, a prominent human rights lawyer in Greater Valparaíso and the film’s executive producer, commented after the screening that «it was an event that stirred tremendous emotion in the audience, including myself. I believe it reflects years of struggle for the truth regarding the homicide of Juan Bustos Marchant, led by his daughters and the group of lawyers: Dragomir Kegevic, Alex Cortés Díaz, and myself.»

«Often, we fight against what one might call windmills, reminiscent of Don Quixote. Yet, I think the documentary’s director truly captured that feeling: the emotion and memory of Juan Bustos Marchant, especially through the experiences shared by his daughters, Pamela and Gloria,» emphasized Kegevic.

Alex Cortés Díaz, also an attorney for the case and executive producer of the documentary, expressed that he was left with the impression «that time had not passed, and that even today, we are recalling past events that have impacted our lives, our society, and our country. I genuinely commend Rodrigo and the team that assisted him. In one way or another, this work reminded us of our history.»

For the family, the documentary reflects the cruelty of a regime that sought to conceal the crime of a dedicated individual who led investigations, was unjustly removed, disgraced, and violated, without any institutional reparations to date.

«This valuable documentary was showcased on September 11 in memory of a person whom history will remember as a loyal patriot who fulfilled his professional duty, with reparations to that level of prominence still pending. On this occasion, Gloria, one of the daughters, received a bouquet of flowers, a framed poster of the film, and recognition from those who filled the Viña del Mar stage,» reported the premiere organization.

Finally, Rodrigo Piaggio Marchant, director and producer of the documentary, expressed feeling «calm, very happy, and emotional about the work completed. Although the film is not fully finished, it is crucial for the next step and its completion to receive public feedback.»

«It is fundamental that every film, before being officially released, goes through this space to be tested on the big screen so we can determine if it is indeed a film suitable for theaters or if it should be directly released on YouTube. In this case, along with my team, we are entirely convinced that considering the audience’s reception at this first showing, the film should continue its journey through national and international film festivals and various municipal theaters across the country throughout 2027,» affirmed the filmmaker.

«The Last Journey of Juan Ramón» is a documentary film, approximately 50 minutes long, created entirely in the commune of Viña del Mar, and is preparing for its world premiere next January in the same city. 

EL CIUDADANO