This drama documents the events surrounding the downfall of President Pinochet, dictator of Chile from 1973 to 1988. As a drama, it fails, but the events the filmmakers depict are so powerful that the images create a story all of their own. Truths are encompassed by themes of stolen civil liberties and, abomination by abomination, this tragic era of Chile’s history is faithfully drawn.
Augusto Pinochet comes to power by overthrowing a democratically elected government in a bloody coup. He dissolves Congress, scraps the constitution, bans opposition, arrests trade unionists and imposes controls on the media. His reign of terror grows, with thousands of innocent citizens becoming victims of state-sponsored murder. By 1988, the US, his strongest ally, can no longer turn a blind eye, and Pinochet is forced to hold a referendum on his presidency. The country can vote ‘Yes’ to another eight years of his rule, or ‘No’ to end it. Both sides are allotted a daily 15 minute television broadcast, and it is upon this that the future of Chile will rest. The ‘No’ party quickly assembles its fighting force, and an idiosyncratic advertising executive named Rene Saavedra (Gael Garci Bernal), is appointed to spearhead their campaign.
The most entertaining moment in this film is when the ‘Yes’ party suddenly discover that they are in danger of being outsmarted by the ‘No’ party, who are the undisputed underdog, with a miniscule budget and zero power. At this point, the audience has already realized that Goliath might have a problem, and it is most satisfying to witness the mighty squirm. This ying and yang is what could have propelled the story forward, and created a virtual scoreboard for a game being played on the international stage. Instead, however, events unfold with no impact on the next, no ticking clock, and a specific finishing line is never defined.
Realistically, creating 15 minutes of footage every day is a challenge, but this never seems to be an issue, so tension is often at a low ebb. Intimidation by the despot’s secret police is frequently felt by Rene and his team, but there is no escalation, no creeping sense of danger that the more they succeed, the greater danger they will be in. There is also no cost attached to failure, which would be high. Once the world press leaves, the failed opposition would have the full attention of a tyrant, who is infamous for political torture and “desaparecidos”; the ones who simply disappear.
The story ends, as it should, when the referendum results are in. However, in 1998, while Pinochet was in the UK, the Spanish government sought to put him on trial in Madrid for the deaths of its citizens in Chile. The UK, more specifically, Mrs. Thatcher, prevented his extradition, and another drama was born. The stakes aren’t as high as the freedom of an entire nation but, with English bedfellows, a Spanish inquisition, and a little Latin American mystique, a sequel surely beckons.
RELEASE DATES
France – 18 May 2012 (Cannes Film Festival)
Switzland- 8 August 2012 (Locarno Film Festival)
Chile – 9 August 2012
Spain – 22 September 2012 (Donostia-San Sebastian Fest)
France – 26 September 2012 (Biarritz International Festival of Latin American Cinema)
Germany – 30 September 2012 (Hamburg Film Festival)
USA – 12 October 2012 (New York Film Festival)
France – 18 October 2012 (La Roche-sur-Yon I Festival)
Brazil – 30 October 2012 (Sao Paulo Film Festival)
Greece – 9 November 2012 (Thessaloniki Film Festival)
Mexico – 9 November 2012
Taiwan – 9 November 2012 (Taipei Golden Horse Festival)
France – 15 November 2012 (Sarlat Film Festival)
Italy – 23 November 2012 (Turin Film Festival)
UK – 2 December 2012 (Brighton Film Festival)
Brazil – 28 December 2012
Chile – 17 January 2013 (re-release)
Turkey – 25 January 2013
Turkey – 25 January 2013 (limited)
Nethands – 27 January 2013 (Film Festival Rotterdam)
Greece – 31 January 2013
Nethands – 31 January 2013
Sweden – 1 February 2013 (Goteborg Film Festival)
Ireland – 8 February 2013
Norway – 8 February 2013
Spain – 8 February 2013
UK – 8 February 2013
USA – 15 February 2013 (limited)
Australia- 21 February 2013
Russia – 21 February 2013
France – 6 March 2013
Germany – 7 March 2013
New Zland- 28 March 2013
Sweden – 8 May 2013 (DVD premiere)
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
Sony Pictures Classics
550 Madison Ave
8th Fl
New York, NY 10022
USA
Phn: +1 212 833 8833
Fax: +1 212 833 8844
http://www.sonyclassics.com/
