The Motherland
The Motherland
1986, English. Directed by Juan Downey.
The Motherland is an ironic parable of Downey's native Chile. Returning to Santiago, he finds a society in the grips of the military dictatorship of General August Pinochet. In a scenario that suggests the "magic realism" of Latin American fiction, Downey visits the suburban house of his youth and stages a surreal re-enactment of the Motherland "giving birth" to a duck, while the crucified Prophet looks on. This overtly symbolic scene is intercut with the spectacle of General Pinochet and his troops in full regalia. In an unsparing indictment of the economic and political reality of the dictatorship, The Motherland offers the Prophet as a sacrifice to the goose-stepping ranks of Pinochet's junta. This savage allegory, in which church and state conspire to oppress society and the individual, merges the subjective and the cultural, the autobiographical and the political.
- Runtime
- 0h 7m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Motherland
The Motherland isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 January 1986.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 1 January 1986
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked The Motherland

The House of the Spirits
1993 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Barbie
2023 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

A House of Dynamite
2025 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Mosquito Coast
1986 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Under the Volcano
1984 · 6.6/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Everything Everywhere All at Once
2022 · 7.7/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Brother from Another Planet
1984 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Still Breathing
1997 · 6.5/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Inception
2010 · 8.4/10
Absolute CinemaRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989 · 7.3/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Motherland: quick answers
Is The Motherland worth watching?
The Motherland doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Motherland?
The Motherland runs 7 minutes (0h 7m).
Does The Motherland have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Motherland. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Motherland parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Motherland yet.
Which OTT platform is The Motherland on?
The Motherland isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 January 1986. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Motherland?
If you liked The Motherland, try The House of the Spirits, Barbie, A House of Dynamite.
Who directed The Motherland?
The Motherland (1986) was directed by Juan Downey.