No is a Spanish foreign film based on the events of the 1988 Chilean referendum to vote out dictator Augusto Pinochet out of presidential office.
The film which stars Gael GarcÃa Bernal (one of my favourite actors), follows the story of an ad executive responsible for the "No" campaign in favour of establishing a new and fair government.
No is incredibly well filmed and follows the developing political storyline from many different angles.
The film focuses on many issues including the oppression citizens experienced under the Pinochet regime, government censorship and human rights abuses carried out by the dictatorship.
Synopsis
No, appropriately titled follows those involved in running the "No" campaign in the Chilean referendum, echoing the phrase "Chile, la alegrÃa ya viene". It focuses on René Saavedra (Gael GarcÃa Bernal), a fictional character in charge of the campaign.
The film follows René as he collaborates with others on everything from strategy to filming material for the campaign.
As the film progresses, tensions from the opposition rise. Which sees René and his team targeted by government and para-military forces.
The remaining of the film focuses on both the "No" and "Yes" camps as voting day nears closer.
The film does a great job bringing 1988 Chile to life and painting a comparable atmosphere fitting the time. Much of this is due to the amazing cinematography and the retro-dynamic video display.
Important Themes
As a brilliant film No is, it touches on many issues surrounding the Pinochet regime of the 70's and 80's.
Thousands of Chilean citizens went missing during the dictatorship and thousands more were executed by the regime.
According to the Commission of Truth and Reconciliation and the National Commission on Political Imprisonment and Torture, around 30,000 people (27,255 tortured and 2,279 were executed) have been accounted for by the Chilean government. Along with a total of over 200,000 civilians being exiled from the country.
Popular estimates hold that all of the above numbers are significantly higher as thousands today still do not know what happened to their loved ones. These people have been referred to as "the disappeared" or "los desaparecidos."
Following the 1988 referendum, Augusto Pinochet still officially ruled the country until 1990 and remained as Commander-in-Chief of the Army until 1998.
He was sworn in as a senator for life, which gave him many privileges including immunity from prosecution. In 2000, his privileges were denounced by the new government and Pinochet himself was indicted for crimes against the wrongful execution of 75 civilians (known as the Caravan of Death case) by a Chilean death squad.
However, in 2002 Pinochet's health started to waver and was deemed as mentally unstable. He had his indictments ignored as his health declined. With claims stating he was senile and could not remember events.
This led to his eventual death in 2006 concluding with Pinochet never being convicted of any domestic, international or any war crimes whatsoever. It is safe to say that corruption followed him all the way to his death-bed.
Conclusion
All in all, No is a tremendously well-constructed film. It follows quite a unique narrative. Looking at the referendum from an uncommonly seen advertising angle.
It includes a strong acting performance from Gael GarcÃa Bernal and a very, very lifelike film production. It is clear to see why the film has won 13 international awards and was nominated for an Oscar in 2012.
The film tells a story of events which monumentally changed people's lives. As well as giving a representation of how life can be under an authoritarian regime.
For me, it is a smart film which keeps you engaged for the entirety of the 118 minute run-time
It is a film you without a doubt must experience. So say yes to No (see what I did there).
