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Exiled Politician Crowns Himself King in Bizarre Satire
14 Nov
Summary
- Ambitious politician Chema retreats to countryside hacienda after losing presidential bid
- Chema and his wife Carmina crown themselves king and queen of a fabricated realm
- Household staff recast as courtiers, halls transform into stages of decadent ceremony
On November 14, 2025, a new film titled "Versalles" from director Andrés Clariond is set to world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The movie follows the story of Chema, an ambitious Mexican politician who retreats to a countryside hacienda after losing his chance at the presidency.
Joined by his elegant wife Carmina, Chema's exile soon turns into delusion as the couple crown themselves king and queen of a fabricated realm. The household staff are recast as courtiers, and the halls of the hacienda transform into stages of decadent ceremony and bizarre rituals. Inspired by works like "The Death of Stalin" and "The Favourite," the film explores how power corrupts, how perception shapes reality, and how civility crumbles under an unrestrained ego.
The film features "magnetic" performances by lead actors Cuautli Jiménez and Maggie Civantos, and is produced by Pimienta Films, the company behind the acclaimed "Roma." With irony, theatrical exaggeration, and striking visual symbolism, "Versalles" reimagines the decadence of French aristocracy through the lens of modern Mexican politics, offering a timely satire on the absurdity of megalomania.
