An older man walks with his cane through the southern forests. You wears a green overall and is surrounded by a trunks landscape with lichens and leaves without leaves, marked by the presence of a penetrating winter in Tierra del Fuego. He is Germán Genskowsky. He is accompanied by the documentary filmmaker Mateo Barrenegoa and photographer Guy Wenborne, who have the mission of portraying him for what would be the documentary «Genkowsky». “Germán is a man who must listen, in very few words and expression,” says Guy.
“Don Germán, at some point, had a job, a house, a salary, all resolved. And he decided to cut with that and move to the southern end of Tierra del Fuego”, Comments Mateo Barrenengoa, nature documentary filmmaker, Natgeo Explorer and director of “Genskowsky”. Through this unpublished documentary, he portrays “Don Germán” and his daily life through images and stories, Showing his experiences and the relevance of his life in this place.
Germán was born and grew in southern Chile. He worked with his father in the sawmill near Lake Fagnano, in Caleta María. However, At some point in his life he left this place. He got work and an important position in ENAP and, during this stage, He met his life partner, Maricela Diaz. However, in his search to find new horizons, he ruled out this life and, together with his current wife, He returned to his roots to look for a life connected to nature, in the environment where he had grown up with his family. From that moment, he began his dream of living in one of the most remote corners of the world. “It’s something that throws me, I can’t prevent it,” says a young Germán throughout the documentary.
At that time there were no roads or approach to approach, so everything should be done through horses. The extreme climate, together with the lack of shops and hospitals, make Germán’s life stand out As a way of making homeland in an indomitable place, with a life of effort and sacrifice.
That is part of what he tried to communicate Mateo Barrenengoa through the documentary that will be released in Santiago Wild 2025. For five days, he witnessed Germán’s routine and documented his reality and daily living. “This meant a job that I wanted to do for a long time, Power really get involved with a person, be at home, observe his daily life, share with him and gain his trust. Show that through the camera I really like, and I wanted to do it with some relevant character of Patagonia”Mateo says.
During this project, Mateo highlights Guy Wenborne’s participationwho pioneered the idea of making a documentary about Germán. The photographer is part of the narrative throughout the film, accompanying Don Germán in his daily tasks: “We wanted to talk a little about the photography and role of Guy Wenborne on this trip, and Guy had already gone on other trips in which he had taken photographs of Germán, then We wanted to make a narrative of how he returned and made more careful portraits about him. ”
“We accompanied him in his daily tasks, with his animals, ordering his things, taking advantage of beautiful lights (…). In general it was a very pleasant, little stressful experience, How should it be in Patagonia”, Highlights the director of“ Genskowsky ”after the recording.
Through intercalation with videos of a young germán and a current one, Mateo creates a narrative full of nostalgia, nature and historyaccompanied by the musical composition of Enrique Barrenengoa. This is how the essence of A man who is part of these indomitable lands, being himself a living heritage which is part of this natural connection between the mountains and the sea.
-“It is important to know Germán’s life because He opted for a life away from society, having been a person in an important position. He ruled it out of a life connected to nature and the environment he had known (…). ANDs a reference for the Magallanes region. It is a story that It is worth conveying with the effort he meant, for the support of his family and his wife, Maricela”, Says Guy Wenborne, who is Germán’s friend for 15 years.
Through the heritage left by his father, Lucio Genskowsky, Don Germán Not only is he taking care of their lands and cattle, but it is also part of a legacy that began to build as a museum to house all its family history. Currently, it is located in the vicinity of Lake Fagnano, being possible to visit and read stories with photographs of his time.
Festival Santiago Wild
This is one of the projects of the Andean Audiovisual Fund (FAA) of South Slope, Explore, the Santiago Wild Festival, in FJällräven collaboration. Its purpose is to make short films in unique destinations in South America, seeking to enhance filmmakers of nature.
This documentary will be released during the 5th edition of the Santiago Wild Festival, On the second day of Summit on Wednesday, May 14. Besides, It will be attended by Germán Genskowsky, Mateo Barrenengoa and Guy Wenborne, who will participate in a conversation during the documentary premiere. This represents a milestone for Germán, who has never left the southern zone and will travel exclusively to this event. “It is a sign that It is an important milestone for him and his family, since it is a great effort to come from the Magallanes region”Matthew stands out.
“I leave very invited to all the people who would be interested in seeing the work we did with Germán at the southern end of Tierra del Fuego. I think that It is a very honest, very little pretentious story, which seeks to count a minimum percentage of Germán’s lifea colon of Tierra del Fuego that deserve to be observed”, Invites Mateo Berrenengoa.
“I invite the public to look at this documentary and witness the tenacity and giant effort made by a man to fulfill his dreamand that dream is always accompanied with his wife Maricela”, finaliza Guy Wenborne.
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