Andres Wood's semi-autobiographical film is set in Chile in 1973, when General Pinochet's military coup seized power from President Allende's democratically elected government. It follows the unexpected friendship of two 11-year-old boys - Gonzalo, who comes from a wealthy middle class neighbourhood, and Pedro Machuca, who lives in a nearby shanty town. They meet when an idealistic priest admits children from poor families to an elite private school and, as they learn about each other's very different worlds, a strong bond grows between them. Wood's powerful and vividly realised drama is the first Chilean film to deal with this tumultuous time in the country's history.