The Settlers, the feature debut of writer-director Felipe Gálvez, has been selected as Chile's
submission to this year's Academy Awards. Set at the turn of the 20th
century, the film sees three men - a Brit, and American and a native -
assigned the task of securing a swathe of land for a wealthy landowner. As
tensions rise among the trio, native marksman Segundo realises their
assignment is to wipe out the native population.
Co-written by Antonia Girardi, the film stars Mark Stanley, Camilo Arancibia, Benjamín Westfall, Alfredo Castro,
Mishell Guaña, Agustín Rittano, Mariano Llinás, Sam Spruell, Adriana
Stuven, Luis Machín
and Marcelo Alonso.
The Settlers is in US cinemas from January 12th. A UK/ROI
release has yet to be announced.
Check out the trailer and poster below.
The official synopsis reads:
At the turn of the 20th century, three horsemen embark on an expedition across the Tierra del Fuego archipelago at the behest of a wealthy landowner, tasked with securing his vast state-appointed property. Accompanying a reckless British lieutenant and an American mercenary is mestizo marksman Segundo, who comes to realize, amidst rising tensions within the group, their true mission is to murderously “remove” the indigenous population.