Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine brings Chile coup’s legacy
Wild Horse Nine is a new dark comedy directed by Martin McDonagh.
It is about two older CIA operatives who think about the harm caused by their past work.
The story takes place around the time before Chile’s military coup in 1973.
Much of the movie is set on Easter Island.
McDonagh says the film is about guilt and regret more than politics alone.
He also thinks today’s world makes the story feel especially relevant.
Chilean actor Mariana Di Girolamo said many people in Chile still feel pain from the coup.
The movie will premiere at the Venice Film Festival and compete for a major prize.
Wild Horse Nine follows two ageing CIA operatives facing the consequences of covert work before Chile’s 1973 military coup.
The film premieres Thursday at the Venice Film Festival and is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion.
Martin McDonagh said current global tensions make the film’s themes of interventionism and covert operations especially timely.
Set largely on Easter Island, the dark comedy stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey.
Chilean actor Mariana Di Girolamo said the coup’s legacy remains an “open wound” that must continue to be discussed.
- Who
- Director Martin McDonagh, actors John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Mariana Di Girolamo, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey, and two fictional ageing CIA operatives.
- What
- Wild Horse Nine, a politically charged dark comedy about covert operations, guilt and regret.
- When
- The film premieres Thursday at the Venice Film Festival; the story concerns events leading up to Chile’s 1973 military coup, and the festival concludes September 12.
- Where
- The story is set largely on Easter Island and involves political events in Chile, the United States and other countries.
- Why
- McDonagh explores the human cost and emotional consequences of covert actions, while Di Girolamo says discussing the coup helps preserve its memory.
Political urgency
Personal consequences
What the film is mainly about
Political urgency
The film’s backdrop addresses covert American involvement, interventionism and political upheaval, themes McDonagh considers especially timely amid current global tensions.
Personal consequences
McDonagh said the film is ultimately less about geopolitics than guilt, regret and the emotional toll of living with one’s actions.
How the coup should be remembered
Political urgency
Mariana Di Girolamo argued that continuing to discuss Chile’s coup is important so people do not forget it.
Personal consequences
The article presents McDonagh’s approach as centered on fictional characters confronting personal consequences rather than offering only a historical or political account.
- Director
- Martin McDonagh
- Film
- Wild Horse Nine
- Festival
- Venice Film Festival
- Competition
- One of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion
- Historical backdrop
- Chile’s 1973 military coup
- Main setting
- Easter Island
- Featured actors
- John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Mariana Di Girolamo, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey