"A subtle, bold and thoroughly feminine political thriller," CHILE '76 opens May 19 at the Royal.

Chile ‘76, director Manuela Martelli’s second feature film, is set during the early days of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. It builds from quiet character study to gripping suspense thriller as it explores one woman’s precarious flirtation with political engagement. We open the film on Friday, May 19 at the Royal.

“An intimate psychosocial character study that unfolds at a national scale. This isn’t a story about one affluent woman’s gradual radicalization against authoritarianism, it’s a story about the illusion of not taking sides.” ~ David Ehrlich, indieWire

“Martelli’s film demonstrates remarkable skill in reconstructing he time period, giving consideration both to recreating the appearance of the era and its emotional tenor.” ~ Teo Bugbee, New York Times

“At all times, and in every way, Chile ’76 is a film defined by layers, with pleasant everyday facades masking a dark, corrupt authoritarian underbelly.” ~ Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

“What begins as a muted marital melodrama slowly boils into a restrained political thriller, with an ease and skill all the more impressive in a first feature.” ~ Manuel Betancourt, Variety

“Küppenheim is terrific, her precision and restraint in the role drawing us into the story. Mariá Portugal’s analogue electronic score is eerily atmospheric.” ~ Wendy Ide, Guardian

“An outstanding performance from Aline Küppenheim is the driving force in this engrossing suspense drama-thriller about an elegant and prosperous woman being drawn into Chile’s anti-Pinochet resistance in 1976.” ~ Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

“A subtle, bold and thoroughly feminine political thriller.” ~ Marina Ashioti, Little White Lies