Martin McDonagh discusses his new film, “Wild Horse Nine,” a CIA drama set in 1970s Chile, which premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday. He describes the project as an investigation into what he says is the CIA’s long record of harmful actions abroad, and says its themes feel unexpectedly timely amid renewed public debate over U.S. intervention overseas.
Both outlets report that the film centers on CIA operatives and a protagonist shaped by guilt and regret over his involvement in global interventions. McDonagh frames his work against a broader conversation about historical intelligence activities, arguing that the public scrutinizes the KGB more than the CIA. He also suggests the story’s resonance has grown as political developments draw attention to how democratic processes and countries can be affected by foreign covert action.
