This fictional film focuses on the Chilean referendum in 1988 on whether or not to continue the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet for another eight years. A young advertising expert works for the "No" campaign while his boss works for the "Yes" side.
This film does a fine job in depicting one of the most pivotal times in the difficult recent history in Latin America. It helps to add a personal touch in adding a side story of the main character's family problems.
Director Pablo Larrain does a fine job in directing crowds and demonstration scenes but the overall style weakens the film. Hand-held camera work and scenes where the sunlight blocks much of the screen dilute the overall potential for this film. He might have learnt from Ben Affleck (Argo) and Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) for their abilities to create suspense out of a story where the audience already knows the ending.
However, the film succeeds in its fairness of depicting working-class people willing to support the Yes side while also exposing the scary abilities of advertising to manipulate people's minds.
This film does a fine job in depicting one of the most pivotal times in the difficult recent history in Latin America. It helps to add a personal touch in adding a side story of the main character's family problems.
Director Pablo Larrain does a fine job in directing crowds and demonstration scenes but the overall style weakens the film. Hand-held camera work and scenes where the sunlight blocks much of the screen dilute the overall potential for this film. He might have learnt from Ben Affleck (Argo) and Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) for their abilities to create suspense out of a story where the audience already knows the ending.
However, the film succeeds in its fairness of depicting working-class people willing to support the Yes side while also exposing the scary abilities of advertising to manipulate people's minds.