AllMovie

The First Year is a jubilant record of the 12 months following the election of Chile’s first socialist president, Allende. The film begins with the depiction of the 1970 presidential elections, documenting the historical event of the first success of a left-wing government in Latin America in an open election. Produced when he was only 31 years old and newly returned to his native Chile following his studies in Madrid, director Guzmán travels the country, meeting workers, fishermen, and Indigenous people rising up to reclaim their land. Fidel Castro pays a visit.