Review of No (2012) by Peneflix M — 20 Mar 2013

Recently, an erudite mentor posed a question to his twenty-year-old mentees (of mixed backgrounds), "what makes America great?" Watching this fine film about the sacking of Chile's dictator, Augusto Pinochet in 1988; an election he felt compelled to initiate; I was pivotally reminded of our free election process; negative campaigning by all parties is simultaneously shunned and accepted; no one fears the tattooing of one's lawn or the harming of one's family; we are free to praise or ban at will; one of the myriad of refreshing aspects of living and thriving in a democracy.

"No" is historical fiction at its pinnacle; blending archival footage with fictional ad- man "Rene Saavedra" ( a subtly superb performance by Gael Garcia Bernal); cavalierly skateboarding to work; he is the inventive visionary of the "No" campaign, struggling to rout the adversarial Pinochet's "Yes" crusade; both sides are given equal prime television exposure, the glibness of the advertising genre and its power to hypnotize, enchant the masses is the key to the stunning success of the film; the quirky "jingles", flamboyant dance sequences, interspersed with the widows, fathers, mothers, children of those gone missing in Pinochet's poisonous reign add genius and legitimacy to "No".

As the election day approaches, tensions surface, riots occur and director Pablo Larraine allows the narrative to develop as realistically as possible; both sides creatively compete; the results, not totally unexpected, but blatant, thundering sensationalism is not dumped upon the viewer. As Rene walks, holding his son "Simon" his eyes reflecting the lightness of his soul; marvelous manifestation of man's radiant capabilities and a future that promises greatness.

FOUR STARS!!!!

For Now..........Peneflix.