Alejandro G. Iñárritu is grappling with some profound questions in his new film, BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths. His first film since 2015’s The Revenant, and first Spanish-language since 2010’s Biutiful, it premiered at the Venice Film Festival where it was met with mixed reviews, prompting a cut of 22-minutes from the final runtime. This new version is being pushed hard by Netflix as an Oscar contender, but it remains to be seen what the overall response will be.
Here is the synopsis: Iñárritu’s Bardo is an epic, visually stunning and immersive experience set against the intimate and moving journey of Silverio, a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles, who, after being named the recipient of a prestigious international award, is compelled to return to his native country, unaware that this simple trip will push him to an existential limit. The folly of his memories and fears have decided to pierce through to the present, filling his everyday life with a sense of bewilderment and wonder. With both emotion and abundant laughter, Silverio grapples with universal yet intimate questions about identity, success, mortality, the history of Mexico and the deeply emotional familial bonds he shares with his wife and children. Indeed, what it means to be human in these very peculiar times.
Starring Daniel Giménez Cacho and Griselda Siciliani, the film is co-written by Iñárritu and Nicolas Giacobone. Cinematographer Darius Khondji, known for Uncut Gems and The Lost City of Z, works with Iñárritu for the first time, as well.
BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths opens in theaters on November 4th, followed by Netflix on November 18th.
