In October 2019, mass social unrest shook Chile – the neoliberal “oasis” of Latin America. Millions of people took to the streets to denounce a historically unjust system and demand social equality, environmental justice, and human rights. Faced with escalating violence and an institutional crisis, the country resolved to draft a new constitution to replace the one inherited from Pinochet’s military dictatorship, which was potentially the most significant political transformation in Chile in the past thirty years. Inside the grand halls of parliament, a diverse assembly embarked on the monumental task of embedding long-absent social justice into the legal framework. From human rights activists and Indigenous representatives to conservative businessmen, a broad spectrum of voices engaged in fierce, uncompromising debate. Meanwhile, outside this constitutional oasis, life remained unchanged – territory, nature, and daily existence continued to suffer under an extractivist model increasingly resistant to reform.
This mosaic documentary by the MAFI collective explores a historic moment that concentrated the urgent and interconnected crises facing not only Chile but the world at large: the collapse of neoliberal capitalism, climate change, political polarization, and the unsettling power of misinformation. The collective of filmmakers worked according to a principle of pure observation, following a precise cinematographic formula: fixed shots without editing or voice-over commentary, direct sound, and short segment duration. Driven by the urgency to document reality, they created an archive of moving images – a beacon in the effort to construct meaning and navigate the turbulent seas of change. A collaborative documentary of a failed political process, Oasis honors the courage of a country at the end of the world daring to draft what international media once called “the most progressive constitution on Earth,”and offers vital lessons for the uncertain times ahead. (Dina Pokrajac)
Awards and Festivals:
Berlinale Forum (2024) – World Premiere; CPH:DOX (2024) – Official Selection
Tamara Uribe is a documentary filmmaker and film programmer. A member of the MAFI collective, she participated in the transmedia project MAFI.tv (2013), which premiered at IDFA DocLab, and the film Dios (2019), awarded at Visions du Réel. Oasis (2024) is her directorial debut.
Felipe Morgado is a filmmaker, producer, and educator. Also a MAFI member, he leads art residencies across Chile and collaborates on collective films. He produced the short Fantasmagoria (2022), directed by Juan Francisco González, which premiered at DocLisboa. Oasis (2024) is his directorial debut.
