Second look (9)

After Il Postino, the best movie I ever saw, I had to read Neruda. And after reading some of his poetry, when in Santiago de Chile, I had to visit one of his homes. I was impressed. Lovely tour, impressive house, great guide. Then I saw this picture on the wall. Our guide explained that it had been made by a friend of his, on his return from exile. In the stadium all his friends were present to welcome him. The red ones are communists. (Neruda in the back himself).

I saw the wryness: in that very same stadium many of these friends must have found their end, in the era of Pinochet opponents were shot in the stadium. As if the artist knew that something was about to happen. Pictures weren't allowed inside his house, but the guide let me take one anyway. Looking at it, it still impresses me.