The Chilean

Set amongst the political uproar that engulfed Chile and Italy during the 1970s, The Chilean (adapted from the book by Juan Cristóbal Guarello) chronicles the real-life story of miner and explosives expert Aldo Marín (Camilo Arancibia), who’s forced to leave his home in Chile when his family is targeted by the country’s regime. He seeks political exile in Turin alongside fellow miner El Chapa (Andrew Bargsted) and gets a low-paying factory job. However, he’s soon contacted by a left-wing group who offer him large sums of money for his bomb-making service. Seeing no other option, Aldo reluctantly accepts, and gradually gets pulled further into the group’s orbit as Italy’s law enforcement draws nearer.

Directed and co-written by Sergio Castro-San Martín, The Chilean is reminiscent of 70s dramas like The Conversation. While the feature offers a compelling character study, heightened by the moody score and cinematography, the filmmaker’s decision to sidestep historical context can leave viewers feeling slightly lost.

There are a lot of intricate layers at play in the script. Outside of the mounting political violence, the film touches upon employment problems, racial tension and feminist activism, the latter spearheaded by militant doctor Luciana (Sara Serraiocco). Their inclusion is subtle and mostly relegated to background dialogue, but they collectively serve to add depth to the setting. Elements of film noir captured in the deep shadows of Simon Guy Fässler’s cinematography and Zeno Gabaglio’s sublime score likewise elevate the atmosphere to tremendous effect.

Aside from brief opening text and snippets of news reports, the feature deliberately conceals the reasons behind the political uprisings. Viewers consequently never know what Aldo’s allies are fighting for or what the stakes are. While this can leave audiences feeling at arm’s length from the action and ultimately dampens what’s intended to be a suspenseful climax, the choice evokes a more nuanced depiction of the era that blurs the line between heroes and villains to keep the focus squarely on Aldo.

Blending film noir with a political thriller, The Chilean is an atmospheric and intoxicating feature from Castro-San Martín. Although a lack of context can leave audiences feeling disconnected from the plot, the filmmaker nevertheless creates a thoughtful and multifaceted character study.

Andrew Murray

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