Capitalist realism in contemporary Latin American cinema: Figurations of the Capitalocene
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Date
2024
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Abstract
A series of Latin American films produced in the past decade critique the era variously called Anthropocene, Capitalocene or Chthulucene, drawing attention to the pronounced violence that late-stage capitalism has inflicted on communities, ways of life and the environment. These films reconfigure cinematic realism in a way we propose to term Capitalist Realism, in reference to Mark Fisher (2016) who posits that capitalism is not only the sole viable political and economic system, but it has also become inconceivable to imagine any alternative to it. This is visible in films from Chile, Argentina and Mexico that critically depict this capitalist system and its inherent contradictions, shedding light on social, economic and ecological crises. Applying this framework to such films as Noche de fuego, directed by Tatiana Huezo (2021), Reloj, soledad by César González (2021) and Lina de Lima by María Paz González (2019) can provide critical insights into the contemporary age, confronting issues such as (neo)colonialism, extractivism, migration, drug trafficking and precarious working conditions, while proposing representational models for our times that reveal a tumultuous era with a significant impact on human and non-human life across Latin America.