MovieChat Forums > No (2012) Discussion > Very good film and cleverly done

Very good film and cleverly done

posted 12 years ago by PoppyTransfusion
9 replies | jump to latest

Just seen this as part of the LIFF and the director gave a Q/A after the film. It was well received, which is understandable as it's a very witty film with lots of wry humour though the sinister and danger is never far from the surface as befits the period of the time. The director said that 30% of the film is archive footage and this is why he decided to shoot using old style film so that the footage and film fitted seamlessly together. And they do; I forgot that much of what I was watching was real and not the film.

The message that the film conveys is inspirational. Namely that a positive and simple message (a vote for no = happiness) managed to draw Chileans out to vote at a critical period in their recent history. Watching how the ad campaign was run, how ideas were arrived at, the ads that were aired in a brief 15 minutes over a 27-day period was engrossing.

The director said that the main character Saavedra, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, is a fictional composite of two real life ad men involved in the 'No' campaign. It was a perfect role for Garcia, written with him in mind. He was matched on the screen by Alfred Castro who played Lucho Guzman, Saavedra's nemesis.

9/10 from me and I'll be buying the dvd when it's released as well as watching this director's two previous features in the meantime.

Why problem make? When you no problem have, you don't want to make ...

[–] Eumenides_0 11 years ago

I'm curious to see this, I always like an interesting political film. I hope it comes out here in Portugal.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

I hope so. The director said the film would receive a wide release so I would imagine it would be available in most EU countries. If you get to see it I'd be interested in your thoughts. :)

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot

[–] CoobyMX 11 years ago

I just watched the movie and I think it's great. I knew about Pinochet's dictatorship but I was just born when the referendum happened and I didn't know anything about it (I'm mexican). The film gives you a warm feeling of unity in the end and I also loved the late 80s feeling across the movie, it really felt like watching something that old.
¡Viva Chile!

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

It's nice to have another poster on the board who has seen the film.

After I saw the film I had the ad jingle 'Chile happiness is coming' (sorry I don't know the Spanish) in my head for a long time and recalling it, even now, brings back images of people clapping as they sang it. That's evidence enough as to how clever the ad campaign was; they chose a jingle over a song because it would be memorable and more effective. And yes hearing that in my mind brings a smile to my face.

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot

[–] ibbi 11 years ago

It was very good. They covered a lot of ground without ever getting to heavy or sombre with the material, which would have been very easy. I don't think it was perfect, but certainly great stuff.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiYF7pUPuFs

[–] AureliaBuendia 11 years ago

Can't better the comments made by the original poster! For younger posters who don't know much about the Pinochet regime in Chile, try and watch a Costa Gavras film called "Missing" with Jack Lemon and Cissie Spacek. It shows how the US government was complicit in the coup which toppled Allende. A very powerful amd moving film

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

Missing is a very powerful film and I enjoyed it very much and the performances of the three leads. Which of the two films did you prefer?

To say a little often is to tell more than to say a great deal.

[–] Bree_33 10 years ago

Interesting film. I really liked it. No is well worth seeing.

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[–] Errington_92 9 years ago

No was quite intriguing from a historical perspective. The achieve footage was fascinating to see. The film Tony Manero (also directed by Larrain, who co-wrote the screenplay) deals with the Pinochet era as a sinister backdrop. Both films capture the Pinochet era well.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.