Opening Today: Stayin' Alive in Pinochet's Chile with Tony Manero

Pablo Larrain's wicked Tony Manero, named for John Travolta's character in Saturday Night Fever, was the most thrilling selection at the 2008 New York Film Festival. The story of Raúl (Alfredo Castro) and his troupe of dancers eager to put on a disco show in a local taverna could have played like another "art-conquers-all" fairy tale like Billy Elliot and all the rest.

But before the fearsome backdrop of Pinochet's Chile, Raúl's single-minded determination to wear that white suit and dance on lit glass tiles becomes infected with violence and seemingly bottomless despair. By turns hilarious and harrowing, Tony Manero is full of shocking surprises and potent characterizations. [****]

Tony Manero opens today at New York's Cinema Village.

More from  J. Hoberman, Andrew O'Hehir, and  Kevin Lee. Aaron Hillis has a podcast with director Pablo Larrain, and the trailer is on YouTube.