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Fandango Sales Acquires 'The Chilean' at Locarno Premiere

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Fandango Sales has picked up Sergio Castro-San Martín's politically charged thriller 'The Chilean,' premiering at Locarno with a story about a Chilean exile in Turin whose deadly bomb-making skills threaten his fragile new life.

A Miner Caught Between Two Worlds

When Aldo Marín flees Chile's oppressive regime in 1976, he hopes to leave the violence behind. Instead, he carries it with him . not as trauma, but as a deadly skill. Settling in Turin, Aldo meets Luciana, a physician performing clandestine abortions in a country still governed by restrictive laws. Their connection is immediate, but Aldo's past catches up in the most dangerous way possible: his hidden talent for crafting explosives becomes both his lifeline and his undoing.

The 1970s: A Decade of Crossroads

Director Sergio Castro-San Martín draws striking parallels between Italy and Chile during this turbulent period. "The 1970s were a defining decade for both countries," he explained to Variety. "Although the outcomes were very different, the motivations behind the social and political movements in both nations shared important similarities." This thematic foundation gives the film a universal resonance, exploring how political upheaval ripples across borders and shapes individual fates in unexpected ways.

Everything on the Verge of Detonation

The film's title carries a double meaning. On the surface, it refers to Aldo's Chilean identity and his explosive expertise. But beneath that, the director suggests, lies a deeper truth about human nature under pressure: when survival instincts collide with moral dilemmas, the results can be just as destructive as any bomb. The tension builds steadily throughout the narrative, keeping audiences on edge as Aldo's carefully constructed new life threatens to collapse.

Fandango Sales Joins the Project

Just ahead of its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival, Fandango Sales has secured international distribution rights for "The Chilean." The acquisition comes as no surprise given the film's timely themes and the buzz surrounding its unique blend of political drama, personal redemption, and suspense. Festival programmers clearly see potential in a story that feels both historically grounded and uncomfortably relevant to contemporary discussions about exile, autonomy, and moral compromise.

What to Expect at Locarno

With its 1970s setting and Italian-Chilean crossover narrative, "The Chilean" promises to be one of the more distinctive premieres at this year's Locarno. The film asks difficult questions about identity, belonging, and what we're willing to sacrifice for a second chance . all while delivering the kind of high-stakes tension that its title so ominously suggests.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is 'The Chilean' premiering?
'The Chilean' is having its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. Fandango Sales acquired distribution rights just ahead of this premiere.
Who directed 'The Chilean'?
The film was directed by Sergio Castro-San Martín, who drew upon the parallel political histories of Italy and Chile in the 1970s for inspiration.
What is the plot of 'The Chilean'?
The film follows Chilean miner Aldo Marín, who flees his country's regime in 1976 and settles in Turin, Italy, where he meets a doctor performing illegal abortions. His dangerous skill at building bombs threatens to destroy his attempts at starting over.
What themes does the film explore?
'The Chilean' examines exile, political persecution, moral compromise, and the ways political upheaval in different countries can share surprisingly similar motivations and consequences.
What did the director say about the film's setting?
Director Sergio Castro-San Martín noted that the 1970s were a defining decade for both Italy and Chile, and while their outcomes differed, the social and political movements driving both nations had important similarities.

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