TONY MANERO

Set in Santiago de Chile during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet filmmaker Pablo Larraín makes a deliberate effort to depict the decadence, violence, and darkness of the era.

The film follows a Raul, an immoral opportunist in his fifties who is obsessed with the character Tony Manero, portrayed by John Travolta in the movie Saturday Night Fever. He dedicates himself to imitating Manero's mannerisms and elaborate dance moves. His ultimate dream is to be crown the best Tony Manero on national television. His efforts to succeed in the contest lead the film into extremely dark territory as Peralta cheats and thieves his way around town as he tries to perfect his act.

The film captures the feeling, the texture and tactile sense of life during that time and presents a complicated and nuanced view of American pop culture and its unstoppable reach.

Larraín's film does not focus on the dictatorship, although its brutality and immorality is always lurking in the background, but with its idolisation of Tony Manero provides a parallel with today's Chilean society. According to Larraín, the country has forgotten its original culture and traditions, and Chile now functions entirely in America's wake.