Saving lives in Pinochet鈥檚 Chile with Superman鈥檚 help
In 1987 Christopher Reeve agreed to go to Chile to support artists threatened with death. But he didn鈥檛 know Santiago or its perils 鈥� enter Ang茅lica Malinarich-Dorfman.
In November 1987 a group of almost 80 Chilean actors, directors and playwrights living in the brutal military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet received a threat: leave the country by the end of the month or face death. But the artists refused to abandon their home. They came up with a plan: resist the violent ultimatum through a show, attended by actors from all around the world. But what they needed was a Hollywood star. Actor Christopher Reeve agreed, but he couldn't go alone: he didn't speak Spanish and didn't know much about Chile or its dangers. That's when Chilean literary editor and social worker Ang茅lica Malinarich-Dorfman's name came up. She had survived Pinochet鈥檚 coup in 1973, but had had to leave the country with her family, living for years in exile. Ang茅lica, now in the US, offered to accompany Christopher on this trip. But as soon as they arrived, both she and Reeve were greeted by the dangers of the dictatorship.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: June Christie and Olivia Lynch-Kelly
(Photo: Ang茅lica Malinarich-Dorfman and Christopher Reeve. Credit: Courtesy of Ang茅lica Malinarich-Dorfman)
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