Dir. Patricio Guzmán. 2010, 90 mins. 35mm. In Spanish with English subtitles. For this aesthetically staggering and deftly intellectual documentary, Chilean filmmaker Patricio Guzman travels 10,000 feet above sea level to the Atacama Desert, where astronomers from all over the world gather to observe the stars. The Atacama is also a place where the harsh heat of the sun keeps human remains intact, from Pre-Columbian mummies to the remains of political prisoners “disappeared” by the Chilean army after the military coup of 1973. In this otherworldly place, the past melds with the present, as archaeologists dig for ancient civilizations, women search for their dead, and astronomers scan the skies for new galaxies. Nominated for four Cinema Eye Honors awards including Best Nonfiction Feature.

Tickets: $12 (Free for members at the Film Lover and MoMI Kids Premium levels and above). Order tickets online. (Members may contact [email protected] with any questions regarding online reservations.)

Ticket purchase may be applied toward same-day admission to the Museum (see gallery hours). View the Museum’s ticketing policy here. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.