No
Dir: Pablo Larraín
2012
*****
A unique and intelligent political drama documenting the use of advertising tricks in the 1988 NO to Pinochet campaign. The film is great on so many different levels. Firstly, it represents what Chile was like in the late 80's, the contrast and fear of the people and the realities of Pinochet's dictatorship. It also shows how certain people did live comfortably and how conformity was brutally upheld. It shows the power of advertising, ironic in a sense that as evil as we know capitalism can be, the same advertising techniques it uses did bring down a dictatorship. The idea of using the same propaganda Pinochet was using against him was a work of genius, even though it seems obvious in retrospect. The film highlights how this was successful in 88 but it also highlights the fact that those same tricks are now used on us everyday to obey and consume, leaving us elated and then a little bit disturbed. An eerie euphoria. The cinematography technique used is fantastic. By using the same cameras that were used in the late 80's, the film immediately feels credible, much like in advertising, it's fits the product perfectly. Every aspect of the film has been thought out thoroughly and executed perfectly. The use of archive footage within the film is so effective, it has never been done so well in my opinion. Pablo Larrain shows off every aspect of the craft of film making so well, he makes it look easy.