A political black comedy
Filmmaker Martin McDonagh has described his new black comedy, “Wild Horse Nine,” as his most political film to date. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival where he received a Tribute to… Award, McDonagh noted that he finds it exciting to release the project.
“I feel like, in the modern day, there’s perhaps a little too much artistic neutrality, or too much saying nothing, not having an opinion or being apathetic,” McDonagh said during a masterclass.
In the film, John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell star as two CIA agents who travel to Easter Island prior to the 1973 Chilean coup. McDonagh noted that despite its historical setting, audiences often draw parallels to more recent world events, such as situations involving Venezuela or connections between past Russian interventions in Finland and the current situation in Ukraine.
Looking back at early career rejections
During the masterclass, McDonagh reflected on leaving school at age 16 and spending a long period unemployed while hoping to write. He recalled submitting radio plays that were repeatedly rejected, primarily by the BBC, though he stated he bears no grudge.
He subsequently transitioned into playwriting, bringing distinct theatrical energy to the stage with works like “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.” He noted that a pivotal moment in his appreciation of acting was seeing Al Pacino in David Mamet’s “American Buffalo.”
McDonagh’s transition to cinema eventually brought success, beginning with his Academy Award-winning 2004 short film “Six Shooter” and feature films like “In Bruges” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Reflecting on his career trajectory, McDonagh joked about a past as a hitman before entering the film industry, and emphasized his preference for creative independence over larger budgets or mainstream Hollywood studio formulas.
