Yes, the movie Colonia (2015) is based on a true story. It depicts the events at the real-life Colonia Dignidad, a secretive cult founded by German immigrants in Chile, which was notorious for its human rights abuses and collaboration with the Pinochet dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s.
What is the true story behind the movie Colonia (2015)?
The movie Colonia is based on the true story of a religious cult known as Colonia Dignidad in Chile during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The cult was led by a German named Paul Schäfer.
In the movie, the story follows the character of Lena (played by Emma Watson) who joins the cult to rescue her boyfriend Daniel (played by Daniel Brühl) who has been taken by the Chilean secret police.
The true events of Colonia Dignidad were much more complicated and disturbing. The cult was actually a secretive compound where Schäfer enforced a strict regime of discipline and abuse. Its members were isolated from the outside world and subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
The regime of Pinochet granted Colonia Dignidad a large degree of autonomy and protection in exchange for their services. It is said that the cult served as a detention and torture center for political prisoners during the dictatorship, and that Schäfer himself was involved in the torture and killing of dissidents.
In 1991, after years of investigating the cult, Chilean authorities finally raided Colonia Dignidad and found evidence of torture, child pornography, and weapons stockpiles. Schäfer fled to Argentina but was eventually apprehended and tried in Chile. He died in prison in 2010 at the age of 88.
The true story of Colonia Dignidad is a dark chapter in Chilean history, and the events depicted in the movie are just a small glimpse of the atrocities that occurred there.
Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Colonia (2015)?
Yes, there are a few books that discuss or provide information on the true story behind the movie Colonia (2015):
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“The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai” by John Tayman – This book is not directly related to the events depicted in the movie, but it does provide a historical account of a colony of lepers that was established on Molokai Island in the late 19th century.
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“Colonia Dignidad: Eine Geschichte aus der Diktatur” by Winfried Hempel – This book is in German and provides an account of the real-life events that inspired the movie Colonia. It discusses the role of the Colonia Dignidad cult in supporting the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile and the abuses that were committed by cult members against their own members and others.
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“The Light of Hope” by Leonarda Prieto – This book is in Spanish and is the memoir of a woman who was imprisoned in Colonia Dignidad for over a year in the 1970s. It provides a personal account of the horrors and abuse that she and others experienced inside the cult.
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“Colonia Dignidad: Una secta en el fin del mundo” by Ignacio González Camus – This book is also in Spanish and is a investigative report on the Colonia Dignidad cult. It provides a comprehensive account of the history of the cult, the abuses committed by its leaders, and how it operated as a support system for the Pinochet regime.
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