Key facts
- Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh believes the CIA's global interventions warrant greater scrutiny.
- McDonagh's new film, 'Wild Horse Nine,' examines historical CIA actions, including alleged involvement in coups and assassinations.
- The film's narrative centers on a veteran CIA agent's reflections on his past actions.
- McDonagh suggested that current intelligence operations are less covert than in the past.
- He noted that the film, while set in 1973, resonates with contemporary geopolitical issues.
Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh has stated that the U.S.'s history of intervening in democratic processes globally deserves more attention, especially in light of current political developments. McDonagh's latest film, 'Wild Horse Nine,' which premiered at the Venice film festival, centers on a veteran CIA agent reflecting on the agency's past actions.
"I’ve been very interested in the truth of what the CIA has been doing over the last 60 years, and the awful things they’ve done all around the world," McDonagh said. He believes that while the activities of agencies like the KGB are well-known, the CIA's actions are not questioned sufficiently.
The film stars John Malkovich as Chris, a CIA agent stationed in Santiago, Chile, just before the 1973 U.S.-supported coup against Salvador Allende. Diagnosed with cancer and acting erratically, Chris is sent to Easter Island with his protégé, Lee (Sam Rockwell). There, he critically examines his involvement in other CIA interventions, including the 1954 Guatemalan coup, the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and, as depicted in the film, the killing of John F. Kennedy.
McDonagh explained that the story evolved from an initial idea about actors to one focused on guilt and regret stemming from CIA actions, which he felt made the narrative "much sadder and darker." The cast, including Malkovich, who is already generating Oscar buzz for his role, also features Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, and Tom Waits.
When asked about the Trump administration's actions concerning Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, the American cast members appeared hesitant to respond. Malkovich stated, "I can’t think any more." McDonagh then commented that a frightening aspect is the perceived lack of covert operations, contrasting it with the secrecy of the 1970s and suggesting a trend towards increasing "stupidity."
While McDonagh initially intended the film to focus on 1973 Chile, he acknowledged that its themes now resonate as a commentary on present-day geopolitics.