Benjamín Vicuña Joins Matías Bize's 'My Last Stand' as Cameras Roll in Chile

Benjamín Vicuña, the star of Netflix hit series "Envious" ("Envidiosa"), has joined the cast of Goya-winning director Matías Bize's tenth feature, "My Last Stand" ("Aquí me bajo yo"), which began filming October 19 near Santiago, Chile.

Vicuña shares the screen with 91-year-old Jaime Vadell, a fixture in Pablo Larraín's cinema. Vadell appeared in "The Club," "Neruda," "No" and "The Count," in which he played military dictator and vampire Augusto Pinochet. The role reunites Vicuña with Bize for the second time; the actor previously starred in Bize's 2015 family drama "The Memory of Water," which premiered at the 72nd Venice Film Festival.

What is the film about?

"My Last Stand" adapts a successful stage play by playwright-actress Elena Muñoz, who co-wrote the screenplay with Raimundo Bastidas and Milena Bastidas. The story follows a despondent grandfather, played by Vadell, whose suicide attempt is thwarted by his granddaughter Amanda (Milena Bastidas).

Julián (Vicuña), Amanda's father and the grandfather's son, rushes back after many years in Germany. His arrival exposes unresolved tensions across three generations, while Amanda struggles to restore her grandfather's will to live.

The film confronts a stark statistic. In Chile, people aged 80 and older have one of the country's highest suicide rates, with an increase of more than 130% over the past decade, according to Chile's National Service for Older Adults (SENAMA). Rather than offering simple answers, the film invites audiences to view this reality with empathy and to reflect on what it means to age with dignity.

Who is producing it?

"Wild Horse Nine" executive producer Cristián Donoso and his Invercine partners co-produce the feature alongside Cubho Audiovisual, the company behind "La Mecha."

Production is underway at a country house by a vineyard outside Santiago. The producers said they chose the location "because of the importance of wine in the country's culture, particularly among small-scale winegrowers, many of whom run family businesses centered on grape cultivation, as does the protagonist of the story."

For Cubho Audiovisual, founded in 2020 by Isidora Fajardo, Pablo Cuturrufo, Raimundo Bastidas and Nicholas Hooper, the project marks a first fiction feature, following several short films and animation projects. The company views the partnership with Invercine as a "very important step for the project's potential, as it brings together complementary strengths and experience in the international arena."

The project made its market debut at the 9th edition of the Málaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event (MAFF) in March.

What does this change for Invercine?

For Invercine, led by Macarena and Matías Cardone alongside executive producer Cristián Donoso, the film extends a track record built on streaming and international television partnerships. Its scripted credits include "News of a Kidnapping," a multiple award winner at the 2023 Premios Platino, "Dignity" and "Mary & Mike," alongside documentaries and feature films.

The company said the story compelled them "because it is a deeply human drama about aging, family and the right to decide how to live, brought to life by an extraordinary team and cast."

The drama is slated for a 2027 world premiere, giving Bize's tenth feature a long runway from vineyard set to festival screen.