Described as an absurdist comedy combining the Marx Brothers’ farcical humor with the existential anguish of a war film, the titular misunderstanding refers to an incident between two fictitious countries, Lithovenia and Stalovakia, which have been on the brink of war for years. Tensions erupt at the United Nations Assembly when Field Marshal Stroheim storms out after taking offence. Apparently, a perfectly respectful remark — “You look magnificent, strong” — has been misconstrued as “You’re fat.”
“It was a wonderful chain of events, with everything falling into place along the way,” said Díaz who is currently editing his own directorial debut, political thriller “Box 205” (“Habitacíon 205”).
Plans for the next four weeks is to shoot at some mansions in Santiago, including the former U.S. embassy, and outside the city to the create the battlefield with trenches.
“I’ve chosen to portray them, in part, as deeply stupid. I think there is an enormous amount of incompetence, as there is in every aspect of life, but here its consequences are magnified because the stakes are so enormous.”
The rest of the cast includes Maria Barranco (“Harikiri, I Miss You”), Mona Martínez (“Terminator: Dark Fate”), Hugo Silva (“The Body”), Fernando Tejero (“The Captive”), Oscar Casas (“Idols”) and Miguel Rellán (“Spanish Shame”).
Alex de la Iglesia and Benjamin Vicuña. Courtesy of Sanfic
