Tony Manero
Brazil, Chile
2008
98 Min
Color
1.85:1
English, Spanish
Synopsis
Santiago de Chile, 1978. In the midst of the tough social context of Pinochets dictatorship, Raúl Peralta, a man in his fifties, is obsessed with the idea of impersonating Tony Manero, John Travoltas character in Saturday Night Fever.
Raúl leads a small group of dancers regularly performing at a bar located in the outskirts of the city. Every Saturday evening, he unleashes his passion for the films music by imitating his idol. His dream of being recognized as a successful showbiz star is about to become a reality when the national television announces a Tony Manero impersonating contest. His urge to reproduce his idols likeness drives him to commit a series of crimes and thefts. In the meantime, his dancing partners, who are involved in underground activities against the regime, are persecuted by the government’s secret police.
Tony Manero is a story about loss of identity and obsession in the recent Chilean history. —IMDb
Director
Pablo Larraín
Pablo Larraín was born in 1976 in Santiago, Chile, where he studied audiovisual communication at UNIACC University. He is a founding member of Fabula, a production company producing feature films, television and commercials. In 2005, he directed his first feature film Fuga. In 2007 Pablo Larraín made his second feature film, Tony Manero. The film received its world premiere in May 2008 in the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. Post Mortem is his third feature film. —cinemadautor.cat
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Displaying 4 of 10 wall posts.
Francis Deckhaunt
2May13
That was really strong and disturbing, I loved more than everything else the last half-hour!
CarlosEsquives
30Mar13
Una cruda visión sobre la Dictadura Chilena que ya había calado en gran parte de sus ciudadanos. El personaje principal es una de las víctimas, sobre esa mezcla de desquiciado y sujeto soñador, con deseos de superación, pero frustrado.
Kill Eye
4Aug12
Because I was so transfixed by the Dostoevskian dark humor that the main character exhibits, I somehow missed it was a political film on the first viewing. After the second reading I was deep into reading all about Operación Cóndor. Excellent film: entertaining and able to get me to hit the history books.
Riar R. likes this
Pierre Andre
11Aug11
The kind of film Scorsese would have made in the 70's had he been Chilean. A dark and disturbing character study about a man obsessed with John Travolta's character in Saturday Night Fever set in a dark and disturbing era for Chile. Plus, it has a disco soundtrack.
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Articles
Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
Super Cannes: Pablo Larraín's "No"
By Celluloid Liberation Front on June 13, 2012
An extraordinary incursion in the potential of historical fiction that bypasses dates, landmarks and heroes to show history from within.
NYFF 2010. Pablo Larraín's "Post Mortem"
By David Hudson on October 4, 2010
Nelson Kim for Hammer to Nail: "Pablo Larraín follows up his acclaimed Tony Manero with the same production team, the same lead actor (the
Venice 2010. Pablo Larraín's "Post Mortem"
By David Hudson on September 7, 2010
"Pablo Larraín is a Chilean director whose feature Tony Manero (2007) revived the memory of John Travolta and Saturday Night Fever in the
DVDs. "Tony Manero," "The Sun," Leone and More
By David Hudson on June 1, 2010
"Disco and Dantean inferno, Pablo Larraín's Tony Manero portrays a dead-eyed survivor who is 'stayin' alive' during the bloody years of
TIFF Review: TONY MANERO
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
You will be forgiven if a quick glance at the premise of Pablo Larrain’s Tony Manero leads you to believe that the film must be a comedy. After all, it is about a fifty two year old Chilean man……
TIFF Review: TONY MANERO
By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
You will be forgiven if a quick glance at the premise of Pablo Larrain’s Tony Manero leads you to believe that the film must be a comedy. After all, it is about a fifty two year old Chilean man…
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Tony Manero (Pablo Larraín, 2008)
By marzipandildo on September 22, 2012
To talk about politics by making an horror film, or to talk about horror by making a political film. Pablo Larraín does both, with Tony Manero. 1978, Chile is under the dictatorship of Pinochet for… read review
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Netflix and Hulu Streaming Party 08/04/2012: Tony Manero (dir. Pablo Larrain)
14 posts by 5 people
10 months ago