In 1988, due to international pressure, Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. Citizens will anonymously vote "yes" or "no" to extend Pinochet's reign. Opposition leaders look to persuade a young advertising executive to spearhead their campaign, hoping to strike a chord with voters and pull of a near miracle and dethrone their ruler.
Delicately composed with raw emotion, political tension, and witty humor, Pablo Larrain's No is a tremendous film that captures your attention early, never relinquishing it until the story has been done and told. And while the history of ruler Pinochet is never fully explained, the lack of knowledge allows viewers to feel the real effect of the "no" campaign.
Gael Garcia Bernal does a phenomenal job as Rene Saavedra, a marketing executive who bypasses his limited resources to create a marketing plan that spoke to the Chilean people. His performance is stellar as he works tirelessly to combat his opposition, forge forward with his ideas, and protect his family from the political dictator that he is working tirelessly to overthrow.
Raw emotion and pure sincerity help combat the violence portrayed in the film. Larrain presents a style that gives an authentic '80s feel but doesn't go far enough to distract from the central story. The film is diligently focused, never losing site of its mission as it tells a story that so few my age are aware of.
By the end, you are a committed patron, a sense of regret filling your gut as you begin to realize that you yourself are not allowed to vote. The characters are fully developed, and the story is with an even keel. The entire film is well paced, well grounded, and its slew of supporting players make it a well rounded experience that should have you standing up and cheering by story's end.
