“Salvador Allende“ by Patricio Guzmán on the First Day of the Festival

TEHRAN (AIPFF) - On the first day of AIPFF, the documentary “Salvador Allende”, directed by Patricio Guzmán, is going to be screened on Wednesday, 24th of August in Soureh Hall of Howzeh Honari at 11 a.m.

TEHRAN (AIPFF) – On the first day of AIPFF, the documentary “Salvador Allende”, directed by Patricio Guzmán, is going to be screened on Wednesday, 24th  of August in Soureh Hall of Howzeh Honari at 11 a.m.

Salvador Allende was the president of Chile from 1970 to 1973. An avowed Marxist, Allende believed that Western capitalism had done far more harm than good to his nation, and in response he helped to found Chile’s socialist party. In 1970, he ran for president on a platform which, in part, called for the nationalization of most of Chile’s industrial and financial operations.

Despite a fierce campaign against him (managed in part by United States intelligence forces), Allende won the election and made good on his pledges. While Allende was popular with his constituency, he and his agenda of democratic socialism were seen as a threat by the United States, and Henry Kissinger said of his election, “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist because of the irresponsibility of its own people.

“In 1973, a coup d’etat backed by the United States toppled Allende’s leadership, and the former president soon committed suicide. General Augusto Pinochet rose to power in the wake of the coup, leading to a 17-year reign of terror marked by torture and political executions. Salvador Allende is a documentary which looks at the political career of the fallen leader, exploring both his rise to the presidency and the forces that collaborated to remove him from office against the will of the people.

Former United States ambassador to Chile Edward Korry is among those interviewed about the American role in Allende’s fall.

This film shows how Allende managed to be elected in Chile and brings hope to a part of the population by enforcing socialist measures. It also explores Richard Nixon’s policies and his orders to the CIA (Project Fubelt) concerning Allende during his election campaign

The date of the festival is coincided with the 63rd anniversary of the US-sponsored 1953 coup d’état against the government of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq.

The mission of Ammar festival is to help the world become familiarized with the Iranian culture and promote the true image of Iran and the Iranian people.