The Cinematheque

“Alberdi succeeds at showing us the hard-to-manage sides of Alzheimer’s while avoiding reducing Augusto and Paulina’s relationship to a caregiver-patient dynamic … [The Eternal Memory] is a marvel … A testament to the individual’s role in collective memory.”

Marie Saadeh, Exclaim!

Oscar-nominated director Maite Alberdi builds on her impressive oeuvre with The Eternal Memory, her most celebrated work to date. Filmed over several years, Alberdi’s tender portrait captures couple Augusto Góngora and Paulina Urrutia as they cope with the progression of Augusto’s Alzheimer’s disease. Augusto, a well-known television journalist for underground news outlets during Pinochet’s dictatorship, and Paulina, an actor and former Minister of Culture, have been life partners for 25 years. Incorporating extensive home video footage, The Eternal Memory is an intimate portrayal of the adventures, passions, and politics of two of Chile’s most adored public intellectuals. As Augusto’s mental state declines and he forgets who she is, Paulina takes on the role of caregiver and is forced to confront the heartrending reality of her husband’s condition. Despite the couple’s grief, their relationship is imbued with abundant laughter, connection, and an unconditional love that honours both their past and their ever-cherished present.

In Spanish with English subtitles

Grand Jury Prize, World Documentary
Sundance 2023

Best Documentary Feature (Nominee)
Academy Awards 2024

“Alberdi [builds] a portrait in the round, showing Augusto in bloom as well as blight, looking backwards to the courage and conviction of his rebel TV broadcasts, and the long flush of his love with Pauli.” Nick Bradshaw, Sight and Sound

Post-screening discussion with Dr. Benjamin Bryce and Dr. Elisabeth Drance

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, series director