Bardo: On the red carpet with Alejandro González Iñárritu and cast at the London Film Festival 2022

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 between reality and dream, present and memory, that Silverio increasingly occupies, 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 on the red carpet at London Film Festival 2022. Iñárritu explained what inspired the film and the journey he hopes it takes audiences on.

Lead actor Cacho shared what he thinks audiences can expect and the experience of shooting some of the most surreal scenes.

Griselda Siciliani also gave her reflections on the themes of mortality, identity and memory.

Ximena Lamadrid, who plays Silverio’s daughter, told us about the experience of making the film.

Iker Sanchez Solano, who plays the son, also gave his insights into what audiences can take away.

Sarah Bradbury
Videos: Cristiana Ferrauti

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.

Read more reviews and interviews from our London Film Festival 2022 coverage here.

For further information about the festival visit the official BFI website here.

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