Tetro

Tetro. *Tetro* is a 2009 drama film written, produced, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film, a black-and-white family drama with elements of psychological thriller, centers on the fraught reunion of two brothers in Buenos Aires and explores themes of artistic rivalry, familial legacy, and repressed memory. It features an ensemble cast led by Vincent Gallo and marked the screen debut of Alden Ehrenreich.

Plot

The story follows Bennie Tetrocini, a teenage sailor who arrives in Buenos Aires to search for his estranged older brother, Angelo, who now calls himself "Tetro". Tetro, a once-promising writer, lives in a bohemian quarter with his supportive girlfriend, Miranda, and is haunted by the legacy of their domineering father, Carlo Tetrocini, a world-renowned orchestra conductor. As Bennie pushes to reconnect, he uncovers a suppressed family history involving a bitter rivalry between Carlo and his own brother, a composer named Alfie, and a tragic accident that fractured the family. Bennie discovers Tetro's unfinished play and secretly completes it, leading to a confrontation at the Patagonia Film Festival where the full, operatic truth of their past is revealed.

Cast

* Vincent Gallo as Angelo "Tetro" Tetrocini, the tormented older brother and writer. * Alden Ehrenreich as Bennie Tetrocini, the younger brother who seeks out Tetro. * Maribel Verdú as Miranda, Tetro's compassionate and steadfast girlfriend. * Klaus Maria Brandauer as Carlo Tetrocini, the brothers' famous and tyrannical father. * Carmen Maura as Alone, the insightful and critical literary critic. * Mike Amigorena as José, a friend in the local artistic community. * Rodrigo de la Serna as Abelardo, another associate in the Buenos Aires scene. * Leticia Brédice as a waitress at the local bar. * Sofía Gala as María Luisa. * Fernando Tielve as young Angelo in flashback sequences. * Joaquín Bonet as young Bennie.

Production

The film was a deeply personal project for Francis Ford Coppola, who returned to screenwriting and self-financed the production through his winery, Francis Ford Coppola Presents. Principal photography took place entirely in Argentina, primarily in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires and in Bariloche, with cinematography by Mihai Mălaimare Jr. shooting in high-definition digital. The score was composed by Osvaldo Golijov, and the legendary film editor Walter Murch collaborated with Coppola once again. The production was mounted by Coppola's long-standing company, American Zoetrope, and marked his first original screenplay since *The Conversation*.

Release

*Tetro* had its world premiere at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. It was subsequently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastián. In the United States, it was distributed by Lionsgate and received a limited theatrical release beginning in June 2009. The film was later released on DVD and Blu-ray in various international markets.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed; some praised Coppola's visual style and the performances, particularly that of Alden Ehrenreich, while others found the narrative melodramatic. The film holds a rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was noted for its lush black-and-white cinematography and Osvaldo Golijov's score. It did not achieve significant commercial success at the box office but is regarded as a key film in Coppola's later artistic period. The film was Argentina's official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, though it was not nominated.

Category:2009 films Category:American drama films Category:Films directed by Francis Ford Coppola Category:Films set in Argentina