Tony Manero
Synopsis: Raul Peralta, a middle-aged criminal in 1970’s Chile, is obsessed the idea of impersonating Tony Manero, John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Fever. Every Saturday night, he unleashes his passion for the film’s music by imitating his idol and leading a small group of dancers as they perform at a bar in the outskirts of the city. His dream of being recognized as a successful showbiz star is about to become a reality when a Tony Manero impersonating contest is announced on national television. However, his obsession to reproduce his idol’s likeness and perfect his act drives him to commit a series of violent crimes and thefts, leading to shocking violence and murder.
Set during the tough social context of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, Tony Manero is an award winning thriller that Entertainment Weekly calls, “a dark, edgy movie.”
Genre
Rated
Language
Run Time
Subtitles
Starring
Amparo Noguera (Cony)
Elsa Poblete (Wilma)
Hector Morales (Goyo)
Directed by
Written by
Mateo Iribarren
Pablo Larraín
Produced by
Edited by
Composer
Production Designer
Awards
Warsaw International Film Festival - Poland - 2008
Special Jury Award, Free Spirit Competition (Pablo Larraín)
Torino Film Festival - Italy - 2008
FIPRESCI Prize (Pablo Larraín)
Torino Film Festival - Italy - 2008
Prize of the City of Torino for Best Feature Film (Pablo Larraín)
Torino Film Festival - Italy - 2008
Jury Prize for Best Actor (Alfredo Castro)
Havana Film Festival - Cuba - 2008
Best Actor (Alfredo Castro)
Havana Film Festival - Cuba - 2008
Grand Coral - First Prize (Pablo Larraín)
Rotterdam International Film Festival - Netherlands - 2009
KNF Award (Pablo Larraín)
Istanbul International Film Festival - Turkey - 2009
Golden Tulip for Best Film (Pablo Larraín)
Miami Film Festival - USA - 2009
Special Mention, Ibero-American Competition (Pablo Larraín)
Chileans Altazor Awards - Chile - 2009
Altazor Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Alfredo Castro)
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema - Argentina - 2009
Best Actor (Alfredo Castro)
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema - Argentina - 2009
FEISAL Award (Pablo Larraín)
Nominations
Cannes Film Festival - France - 2008
C.I.C.A.E. Award
Quotes
A memorably claustrophobic evocation of its time and place, as well as a reminder that the so-called escape offered by pop culture can sometimes be an escape into soul-sucking madness. - Andrew O'Hehir , Salon.com
This film is not a joy, and there is no joy in it, but it is powerfully grotesque and it will linger, whether you want it to or not. Give it a go, if you feel brave enough. - Deborah Ross , The Spectator
