Socialist Realism joins a series of posthumous Ruiz releases completed by Sarmiento (a wonderful director in her own right whose sociological eye, technical prowess, and ribald streak merit more recognition) that are not forgotten masterpieces, but amusing footnotes by a filmmaker who was always committed to sketching out new ways of approaching his medium of choice. The curious thing about Socialist Realism is that it is a far colder film about leftist politics in Chile than anything made by Ruiz’s contemporaries.