Gael Garcia Bernal stars in this award-winning film about the ad campaign used to defeat Augusto Pinochet in his 1988 referendum. Presented by the Americas Research Group at Newcastle University. The film will be followed by informal discussion - all are welcome to join.

Based on Antonio Scarmeta's unpublished play, 'El Plebiscito', NO tells the story of an in-demand ad man working in Chile at the time of Pinochet's 1988 plebiscite.  After 15 years of military dictatorship, and mounting international pressure, the Chilean public are asked to vote on whether Pinochet is to stay in power for a further 8 years (the 'YES' vote) or whether there should be an open, democratic presidential election (the 'NO' vote).

No is shot on low definition, U-matic tape, which was widely used by Chilean television news at that time. Thus original news footage merges almost seamlessly into the narrative of the film.  The film won the Art Cinema Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the Foreign Language Oscar at the 2013 Academy Awards (as well as many other film festival nominations and awards).  However, the film received mixed criticism and praise: simplifying history; a focus on marketing rather than the grassroots campaigning and political activism; a cinematic masterpiece; a great eye for period detail; a success for Latin American cinema on the international circuit.