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Chronicles the experiences of Miguel Littin, an exiled Chilean film director who returned to his homeland disguised as an Uruguayan businessman and traveled throughout the country making a secret documentary about the military government

After 12 years of exile, well-known movie director Miguel Littin returns to Chile clandestinely to film a documentary on life under the Pinochet regime. In the skilled hands of Nobel laureate Garcia Marquez, the first-person account (based on taped conversations) becomes a chilling thriller. The story holds the reader in suspense until the final escape with a 105,000-foot ``don key's tail'' of film Littin intends to pin onto the dictatorship. It forcefully demonstrates that fear and repression now reign in a country once so dedicated to democratic ideals. The trans lation is simple and readable. Highly recommended. Louise Leonard, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.

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In 1973, Chilean film director Miguel Littin was exiled during the turmoil that followed the assassination of President Salvador Allende. Twelve years later, disguised as an Uraguayan businessman, he returned to his country and spent six weeks ``making a film that made fun of the dangers of military power.'' In Nobelist Marquez's hands, this is a scary, exhilarating and sometimes hilarious tale of bizarre coincidences, hairbreadth escapes and ludicrous foul-ups (getting a shave and haircut in Concepcion, Littin discovers afterward that his meticulous disguise has been ruined). His brashness is impressive: at one point he manages to shoot some footage inside Gen. Augusto Pinochet's private office. In the end he escapes by air, fantasizing that the dictator will soon be ``dragging behind the 105,000-foot donkey's tail of film we had pinned on him.'' A rousing adventure story, this is also the best reportage available about conditions in Chile today. Illustrations. (June 30) Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.

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In 1973, Chilean film director Miguel Littin was exiled during the turmoil that followed the assassination of President Salvador Allende. Twelve years later, disguised as an Uraguayan businessman, he returned to his country and spent six weeks ``making a film that made fun of the dangers of military power.'' In Nobelist Marquez's hands, this is a scary, exhilarating and sometimes hilarious tale of bizarre coincidences, hairbreadth escapes and ludicrous foul-ups (getting a shave and haircut in Concepcion, Littin discovers afterward that his meticulous disguise has been ruined). His brashness is impressive: at one point he manages to shoot some footage inside Gen. Augusto Pinochet's private office. In the end he escapes by air, fantasizing that the dictator will soon be ``dragging behind the 105,000-foot donkey's tail of film we had pinned on him.'' A rousing adventure story, this is also the best reportage available about conditions in Chile today. Illustrations. (June 30) Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.