Tony Manero
A desperate Chilean imitator turns a television dance fantasy into a vicious escape from dictatorship and personal ruin.
Overview
A man's obsession with a disco icon leads him down a dark path of crime and desperation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- bleak
- provocative
- claustrophobic
- arthouse film night
- political cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as deliberately provocative, challenging, and compelling, even as its disturbing subject matter resists easy description.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Raúl meticulously models his clothing, dancing, and stage presentation on Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever.
The Pinochet regime, secret-police violence, and underground political activity surround Raúl’s private obsession without transforming him into a conventional political hero.
Raúl’s drive to perfect a television look-alike act leads him to acquire illuminated glass bricks through theft and murder.
The shabby Santiago house and improvised stage are set against Raúl’s glittering Tony Manero costume and planned illuminated dance floor.
Films like Tony Manero, and why
Post Mortem
shared authoritarian-era setting, morally corrosive protagonist, and bleak political drama
No
shared Chilean dictatorship context, alienated characters, and oppressive psychological realism
The King of Comedy
shared disturbing character study, transgressive violence, and fixation on performance and identity
Movie Details
- Director
- Pablo Larraín
- Release Date
- 2008-08-28
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (97)
Cast
- Alfredo Castro
- Amparo Noguera
- Paola Lattus
- Héctor Morales
- Elsa Poblete
- Maité Fernández
- Marcelo Alonso
- Marcial Tagle
- Rodrigo Pérez
- Enrique Maluenda
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- OVID
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tony Manero about?
- A desperate Chilean imitator turns a television dance fantasy into a vicious escape from dictatorship and personal ruin.
- What is Tony Manero like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tony Manero as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tony Manero violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Tony Manero as brutal.
- What did critics think of Tony Manero?
- Critics broadly regard the film as deliberately provocative, challenging, and compelling, even as its disturbing subject matter resists easy description.
- Which films are like Tony Manero?
- Films with a similar feel include Post Mortem, No, and The King of Comedy.
- How long is Tony Manero?
- Tony Manero runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tony Manero?
- In United States, Tony Manero streams on OVID.
