Wild Horse Nine

In 1973, just before the Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are sent to Easter Island by their supervisor for a mandatory holiday outing. But amidst the iconic images of the island, the long-time partners are confronted with their past and the intrigues of the present. When Chris unexpectedly bonds with two rebellious students, their stay in this remote paradise threatens to spiral out of control. In the comical and moving Wild Horse Nine, reflections on life and regret go hand in hand with dark humor, but underneath the absurdity lies a story about guilt and accountability. How do you make peace with a dark national history? How do you make peace with yourself?

Wild Horse Nine premiered this year at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, where actor John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Also starring are Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. Black comedy-spy-action-thriller Wild Horse Nine is the latest work of Oscar-winning director Martin McDonagh, whose film The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) was the opening film of the Noordelijk Film Festival four years ago.