USA / Peru / Japan,
2005, 83 min
Shown in 2005
CREDITS
- dir
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Ellen Perry
- prod
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Ellen Perry, Stephen Moffitt
- scr
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Ellen Perry, Kim Roberts, Zack Anderson
- cam
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Junji Aoki, Mel Henry, Ellen Perry
- editor
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Kim Roberts, Carla Gutierrez
- mus
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Mark Adler
- source
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Cinetic Media, 555 W 25th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001. FAX: 212-204-7980. EMAIL: micah@cineticmedia.com.
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COMMENTS
Ellen Perry in person.
OTHER
Ellen Perry documents how political oppression, murder and corruption in Peru were effectively promoted in the name of democracy and counterterrorism. Alberto Fujimori vowed radical measures to clean his country up. Son of Japanese immigrants, he was proud to be known as El Chino (the Chinese) and his political outsider credentials far outweighed those of California’s current governor or the U.S. president. While Peru’s president, he waged his own oppressive war on terror until 2002, when his government erupted in scandal and he became an international fugitive. With extraordinary access to her subject, Perry notes the care with which he does his own makeup and prepares numerous takes of his introduction. Archival news footage provides context for recent Peruvian history with some eerie juxtapositions—like pairing Mikis Theodorakis’ music for Zorba the Greek with images of Shining Path guerillas. Interviews with Fujimori’s family and collaborators reveal loyalty, as well as rifts, that long predate his resignation. His wife, Susana Higuchi, still lived with her husband when she ran against him for president. Higuchi says, “Hollywood actors pale next to my husband.” Both Fujimori and his perspective are still very much alive and this chilling study of opportunism and rationalization could not be more timely.
—Kathleen Denny
FACTOID #85
In 1996, Harvey Keitel was the first recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award, honoring “brilliance, independence and honesty” in acting. Honest he was. During the clip show at his tribute Keitel, unhappy with one of the clips, began waving his arms and shouting until the screen went black. The screen lit up with a new clip and the tribute continued.
