Strong, silent types? Meet the puesteros of Chile
Pie Aerts’s striking images of horsemen who live an extremely solitary existence reveal hidden stories of loneliness, alcoholism and a fading heritage
TL;DR
- The documentary 'Coirón' follows aging puesteros (gauchos) in Chile's Magallanes region over six years.
- These men live and work in extreme solitude for months at a time on vast private ranches.
- Their lives are marked by physical labor, distance, and isolation, leading to mental health struggles and alcoholism.
- Many puesteros spend their lives on land they do not own and face uncertainty when they can no longer work.
- The project highlights the erosion of their culture and identity, contrasting it with their dignity and resilience.
- Younger generations are opting out of this lifestyle, seeking urban living or tourism opportunities.
- Individual stories like Luis, Carrera, Oscar, Santana, Hugo, and Danilo illustrate the personal tolls of this way of life.