Three episodes from the “years of silence”. Restless characters, driven, in search of a way out. Together with them, filmmaker Juan Carlos Bustamante reflects on various forms of violence. LIZARDS’ TALES is an existential film full of poetic energy that attempted to inject new kinds of imagery – complex, enigmatic and gritty – into the political cinema of Latin America. Images whose deep structures today still harbour a humane agenda, though dormant.

“Hermetic stories in vexing camera perspectives that refuse traditional reception – an extreme film that does not seek easy applause like most others from Latin America, but instead demands openness. An extraordinarily surprising work from Chile’s continually surprising film culture.” (Der Tagesspiegel, 1989)

Juan Carlos Bustamante was born in Chile. In the 1960s, he traveled for several years around the world, to finally settle down and study Film & Arts in France. In the 1970s, he returned to Chile. In the 1980s, he started his career as a director of photography and independent filmmaker, earning national and international recognition and awards. His feature films were written, produced, photographed and directed by himself. From then on, as a director of photography, he has also directed numerous spots, all around the world.

Filmography (selection): 1984 LA ISLA, 1989 LIZARDS’ TALES, 2000 EL VECINO