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Benjamín Vicuña, best known for his star turn in Netflix hit series “Envious” (Envidiosa”), has joined the cast of Goya-winner Matías Bize’s latest pic, “My Last Stand” (“Aquí me bajo yo”), which began filming Oct.
19.
Vicuña plays alongside 91-year-old Jaime Vadell, a regular in Pablo Larraín’s films, including “The Club,” “Neruda,” “No” and “The Count,” where he played military dictator/vampire Augusto Pinochet.
This is the second time for Vicuña to work with Bize (“The Life of Fish”), after his turn in Bize’s 2015 family drama “The Memory of Water,” which premiered at the 72nd Venice Film Festival.
Based on the successful play by playwright-actress Elena Muñoz, who co-wrote the screenplay with Raimundo Bastidas and Milena Bastidas, “My Last Stand” centers on a despondent grandfather, played by Vadell, whose suicide attempt is thwarted by his granddaughter, Amanda (Milena Bastidas).
Amanda’s father and the grandfather’s son, Julián (Vicuña), rushes back after having been away for many years in Germany. His arrival triggers a host of unresolved tensions among the three generations while Amanda struggles to restore her grandfather’s will to live.
The story shines a light on a sad fact: In Chile, people aged 80 and older have one of the highest suicide rates in the country, with an increase of more than 130% over the past decade, according to Chile’s National Service for Older Adults (SENAMA). Rather than offering simple answers, the film invites audiences to view this reality with empathy and reflect on what it means to age with dignity.
‘Wild Horse Nine’executive producer Cristián Donoso and his Invercine partners co-produce Bize’s 10th feature alongside Cubho Audiovisual (‘La Mecha’).
Production is currently underway near Santiago, Chile, at a country house by a vineyard. According to the producers, the location was chosen “because of the importance of wine in the country’s culture, particularly among small-scale winegrowers, many of whom run family businesses centered on grape cultivation, as does the protagonist of the story.”
For Cubho Audiovisual, this film marks its first fiction feature, following the development of several short films and animation projects. It was founded in 2020 by Isidora Fajardo, Pablo Cuturrufo, Raimundo Bastidas and Nicholas Hooper who view a partnership with Invercine as a “very important step for the project’s potential, as it brings together complementary strengths and experience in the international arena.”
The project first made its market debut at the 9th edition of theMálaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event (MAFF) in March.
For Invercine, led by Macarena and Matías Cardone, alongside executive producer Cristián Donoso (“Wild Horse Nine”), the story was compelling “because it is a deeply human drama about aging, family and the right to decide how to live, brought to life by an extraordinary team and cast.”
The prominent Chilean production company has established itself as a strategic partner for major streaming platforms and international television networks, with scripted productions including “News of a Kidnapping,” winner of multiple awards at the 2023 Premios Platino, “Dignity,” and “Mary & Mike,” as well as documentaries and feature films.
The drama is slated for a 2027 world premiere.
