Yahoo News Pablo Larraín Praises Netflix For Backing ‘El Conde’ & Supporting “Bold And Unique” Chilean Cinema: “We Shouldn’t Take That For Granted” — Venice
Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín returns to Venice this evening with his latest pic El Conde, a black-and-white satire of dictator Augusto Pinochet, which he co-wrote and directed for Netflix.
The pic is his first direct movie for a streamer.
More from Deadline
Roman Polanski's 'The Palace' Sells To Key Europe Territories Ahead Of Venice Premiere
Netflix Adds To UK Drama Commissioning Team By Snapping Up AC Chapter One Exec Toby Bentley
“It’s important that Netflix has supported a movie like this that is bold and unique,” Larraín said of the streamer during the film’s official press conference on the Lido this afternoon.
RELATED: Venice Film Festival 2023 Photos: Premieres, Red Carpets And Parties
“It’s not only the support for this movie but also the support for Chilean cinema, which can speak to the world and has the skills to do it and make valuable cinematic elements that can travel to multiple societies.”
Larraín later added: “We shouldn’t take that for granted. It’s important and relevant because today with the world changing so fast having Netflix doing that is quite important.”
Starring his regular on-screen collaborators like Alfredo Castro and Amparo Noguera, El Conde is set in a parallel universe where fascist Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet exists as a vampire. After being ousted from power, Pinochet is now hidden in a ruined mansion on the cold southern tip of the continent. He has decided to stop drinking blood and abandon the privilege of eternal life. However, despite his disappointing and opportunistic family, he finds new inspiration to continue living through an unexpected relationship.
Veteran Chilean actor Jaime Vadell is Augusto Pinochet in the pic. The brutal dictator is still one of the most divisive figures in Chilean history. He took power 50 years ago next month, following a military coup, and across his 17-year reign, over 40,000 people faced persecution, ranging from imprisonment and torture to execution.
RELATED: Venice Film Festival 2023: All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews
During an interview with Deadline prior to Venice, Larraín revealed that the project initially began as a TV series at Netflix, before Francisco Ramos, who runs Spanish-speaking content at the streamer, encouraged him to adapt the pilot script into a feature.
“I’m happy because this movie is going to be in a lot of living rooms. It’s beautiful. When I was making the film, I thought a lot about how it would be viewed on Netflix in terms of pacing, rhythm, and universality.”
You can read our full interview with Larraín here.
Venice runs until September 9. El Conde hits Netflix on September 15, following a limited theatrical release.
Best of Deadline
Venice Film Festival 2023 Photos: Adam Driver, ‘El Conde’ Premiere, Luc Besson & George Clooney
Venice Film Festival @ 80: Memorable Moments & Stars 1932-2023 - Photo Gallery
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
