Alfredo Stroessner ruled Paraguay with an iron fist from 1954 to 1989, making him the longest-serving dictator in South America. During his regime, authorities imprisoned, tortured, and killed countless opponents, creating an atmosphere of fear and oppression.
In Sofía Paoli Thorne’s documentary Guapo’y, we meet Celsa, a 70-year-old woman who bravely revisits this dark chapter of Paraguayan history. Forty-five years ago, while pregnant with her son, Celsa endured imprisonment and torture. Tragically, she later discovered that authorities had tortured and murdered her husband as well. After spending eight years apart, Celsa finally reunited with her mother, who had also suffered imprisonment. Together, these two women reflect on their traumatic experiences, finding solace in each other’s company. Meanwhile, the lush beauty of nature—especially the herbs Celsa carefully gathers—offers a sharp contrast to her painful memories.
The horrors of the past continue to haunt the present. When someone discovers what may be her husband’s remains beneath a house once owned by Stroessner, Celsa faces her trauma all over again. Disturbingly, the current president, Mario Abdo Benítez, who is the grandson of Stroessner’s personal secretary, openly praises the former dictator’s policies. This unsettling connection reminds viewers that the legacy of dictatorship still casts a long shadow over Paraguay.
