“It’s not autobiographical, but it is introspective”: Alejandro González Iñárritu and his cast on Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

Revered Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu – whose work includes cult classic Amores Perros and Oscar winners The Revenant and Birdman – delivers his most ambitious and personal film to date with Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths. From the perspective of its protagonist, Silverio (Daniel Giménez Cacho), a Mexican-American journalist who is set to be honoured with a prestigious award, the feature takes viewers on a surreal, dreamlike odyssey that seems to transcend space and time. However, as the ceremony draws closer, Silverio descends into a crisis of confidence, questioning everything about his identity, his memory, his creative talent, his friends and his family relationships as the past comes back to haunt the present.

Extravagant set pieces and visually arresting images (from the opening scene of a baby crawling back up into its mother’s womb) immerse the audience in the strange space that Silverio increasingly occupies between reality and dream, present and memory, offering no straightforward answers but bringing much consideration of the nature of identity, memory and grief, all with tongue-in-cheek humour that points to the unavoidable absurdity of life.

The Upcoming were able to speak with the filmmaker and his cast in London. Iñárritu explained what inspired the film and the journey he hopes it takes audiences on.

Lead actor Cacho and Griselda Siciliani, who plays his wife, shared what they think audiences can expect, the experience of shooting some of the most surreal scenes and reflections on the themes of mortality, identity and memory.

 

Ximena Lamadrid and Iker Sanchez Solano, who play Silverio’s daughter and son, told us about the experience of making the film, working with the acclaimed director and how through their characters we see the contrasting viewpoints of one generation to the next on aspects such as identity.

Sarah Bradbury

Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths is released in select UK cinemas on 18^th November and on Netflix on 16^th December 2022. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths here: