Pablo Larrain’s Tony Manero: fashion and alienation

Abstract

This article intends to analyze the Chilean film Tony Manero, directed by Pablo Larrain, through the fashion phenomenon, thus displacing the question of Chilean identity and American Cultural Industry – which are often considered central elements in the interpretation of the film – and placing the focus on the disturbing way through which Raul, the protagonist of the film, participates in the disco fever. Using film analysis, we will try to show that what is disturbing and critical in Tony Manero is not the imitation of a supposed American model in the context of Chilean dictatorship, but the fact that Raul itself is considered a model among his colleagues. To achieve our goal, in addition to film analysis, we are going to propose a methodological approach about fashion and the disco phenomenon, as well as a brief consideration about the film Saturday Night Feeling.