‘Nae Pasaran’ tells the story of four Rolls-Royce workers who refused to fix Chilean dictator’s air force engines.
Two BAFTA award nominations have been given to ‘Nae Pasaran’, which tells the astounding story of how a group of Rolls-Royce workers form East Kilbride stood up to the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
The documentary feature is up for best feature film, along with an awards nod for director Felipe Bustos Sierra.
The story of courageous workers Bob Fulton, Robert Somerville, John Keenan, and Stuart Barrie, whose act of unity and alliance led to the four being honoured as Commanders of the Republic of Chile in 2015, received acclamation following its Glasgow Film Festival world premier.
Sierra told East Kilbride:
“I’m delighted that my film is getting this recognition and for Bob, Robert, John and Stuart’s story to get such a spotlight.
“I always felt that when their story was buried after the engines disappeared in 1978, that some power had been wilfully taken away from these actions and one of our goals was to restore this power to them.
“The reception for the film has acted as a catalyst for many attending our preview screenings who felt their stories of working-class solidarity and exile from dictatorship were represented on film through Nae Pasaran and these nominations are more fuel to our fire.”
He revealed their excitement for the night, adding:
“Every time Bob and his colleagues have put on a tie in the last five
years, they have received something, so we are all really looking forward to the awards ceremony.”
November 2nd, the day of the film’s general release, will be the 45th anniversary of the coup. The film illustrates how Pinochet’s dictatorship was profoundly impacted by these Scottish workers.
- by Alison Kealy, Editor for East Kilbride
- sources: East Kilbride news, the Daily Record
