The Penal Colony (1970)

A foreign journalist arrives on a small Pacific island 200 miles off the coast of South America. Once a leper colony, the island was later transformed into a prison and then, under U.N. mandate, made into an independent republic. Yet despite democratic structures, the inhabitants--who speak a strange dialect composed of Spanish and English--still obey the old prison rules. After sending back detailed accounts of the torture and repression seen everywhere, the journalist realizes that she has fallen into the trap created for her by the islanders: lacking natural resources, the island's main export is news.

Director: Raúl Ruiz
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 67 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Mary Franco Lao
Cinematography: Héctor Ríos
Editing: Carlos Piaggio
Production: Alcaman
Country: Chile
Language: Español
Original Language: es

Keywords

dictator

More Films by Director: Raúl Ruiz
More Films in Genre: Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Penal Colony about?
A foreign journalist arrives on a small Pacific island 200 miles off the coast of South America. Once a leper colony, the island was later transformed into a prison and then, under U.N. mandate, made into an independent republic. Yet despite democratic structures, the inhabitants--who speak a strange dialect composed of Spanish and English--still obey the old prison rules. After sending back detailed accounts of the torture and repression seen everywhere, the journalist realizes that she has fallen into the trap created for her by the islanders: lacking natural resources, the island's main export is news.
Who directed The Penal Colony?
The Penal Colony was directed by Raúl Ruiz.
Who stars in The Penal Colony?
The Penal Colony stars Mónica Echeverría, Luis Alarcón, Aníbal Reyna, Nelson Villagra.
How long is The Penal Colony?
The Penal Colony has a runtime of 1h 7m (67 minutes).
What genre is The Penal Colony?
The Penal Colony is a Drama film.
Where was The Penal Colony produced?
The Penal Colony was produced in Chile.