No (2012)

No (2012)
118 min
Director: Pablo Larraín
Writers: Pedro Peirano (screenplay), Antonio Skármeta (play)
Stars: Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Luis Gnecco
Country: Chile
Language: Spanish

In Pablo Larrain's Pinochet Trilogy, the movies Post Mortem (2010) and No (2012) (remaining one is Tony Manero released in 2008) are depicting somewhat similar situations (sure, the politics is different in both periods); superseding a reign to another.
After 16 and half years of tyranny in Chile, the head of military junta, Augsto Pinochet was prompted to call for a public referendum due to International pressures. The result of this plebiscite will decide whether the panache of power would stay on Pinoche's head for the next 8 years.
"A 'Yes' vote would mean, "Yes, I want Pinochet to stay in power. A 'No' vote would mean, "I don't want Pinochet in power; I want free elections". Says Larrain.
Rene Saavedra, the protagonist played by Mexican actor Geal Garcia Bernal, an ad film maker was persuaded for the No campaign, which consist of telecasting advertisement videos made by Pinochet supporters as well as his opponents through TV. Every night both the groups get 15 minutes to prove their stand.
The transformation of  grey color (in Post Mortem) to multicolored makes us feel the journey of Chilean people from somewhat cadaverous to a new hopeful landscape. Rene is unwilling to show 15 years of sufferings to people. Instead he is revealing the colors of hope and freedom. His target is how to fill viewers mind with charm, pleasure, the dreams of future and to prove them that the referendum cannot be rigged by Pinochet thereby tempting the mass to vote.
Since both the films are placed in a turning point of history, one is dead frozen, time is almost static, showing the painful shades of future; but in the other, time is finding its path, snows are defrozening. The languages he used in both films are entirely different and so sharp, scintillating, as Rene said in the movie "First of all, i would like to say what you are about to see fits with the current social context"
The film is based on the unpublished play El Plebiscito, written by Antonio Skármeta, starring Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro; Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 85th Academy Awards.