Augusto Pinochet was the military dictator of Chile from 1973 to 1990. By 1988, after extensive corruption and human rights abuses, his popularity everywhere had eroded, and he was forced to hold a plebiscite for Chileans to decide whether or not to extend his presidency for eight more years.
Pablo Larrain's 2012 movie No, based on Antonio Skirmeta's play Referendum, tells something of the inside story of the 'No' campaign that set Chile free. Gabriel Garcia Bernal plays Rene Saavedra, a (fictional) firebrand young advertising executive whom Pinochet's opponents persuade to spearhead their campaign. He has a young wife and son for whom he is the breadwinner, but he eventually realizes getting involved with the 'No' campaign (whose cause he sincerely supports) will inspire his son to take a stand in life, so he goes for it. Now, with a very tight budget and under the prying eyes of Pinochet's minions, they hatch their plan to win the referendum and free Chile.
No was nominated for the 2012 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and seeing why is easy. It's not just another self-conscious political drama; Larrain, working from Pedro Peirano's well-structured screenplay, infuses it with real panache and authority. It also brilliantly evokes 1988 Chile through smartly chosen (and placed) archive footage of the real 'No' campaign, featuring prominent supporters like Jane Fonda and Richard Dreyfuss, and Larrain resists using manipulative footage of Pinochet's crimes.
Also crucial is a strong turn from Gabriel Garcia Bernal, taking Rene from a reluctant participant to one who eventually sees why you sometimes must put your cynicism aside and at least try to make a change. No is a brilliant snapshot of Chile in 1988, but in how it explores the effectiveness of grassroots political activism (especially through familiar public resources like the media), it sends a timeless message of how we average citizens CAN change history. Best of all, these ones really did.
No comments:
Post a Comment