No takes us to Chile, 1988. After 15 years in power, the regime of General Augusto Pinochet faces a constitutionally mandated “yes” or “no” referendum on its continued rule. Hotshot adman Rene Saavedra, portrayed in a subtle and powerful performance by Gael Garcia Bernal, takes charge of the seemingly futile “No” campaign. Saavedra constructs a series of late night television commercials, challenging a brutal dictatorship with catchy jingles and rainbow graphics.

No is Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s the third consecutive film dealing with life under Pinochet’s junta.  This time, Larraín filmed entirely with reconstructed 80’s style U-matic video cameras. This allows No‘s fictional segments to blend seamlessly with archival footage of the actual “No” advertising campaign in a uniform retro aesthetic.

No captured the Directors’ Fortnight top prize at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and is Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. More importantly for us though, this work explores new territory in the ever expanding no man’s land between documentary and fiction. We are very excited to have it as a part of True/False 2013.