Argentinian filmmaker Diego Lerman’s latest project, The Man Who Loved UFOs (El Hombre Que Amaba Los Platos Voladores), tells the story of real-life TV journalist José de Zer, who fabricated UFO sightings using flashlights and cigarettes.

Premiering at the San Sebastian Film Festival, the film takes viewers back to 1986 Córdoba, where de Zer and his cameraman, Chango, investigate a strange tip. They arrive at a burnt field surrounded by hills, and what follows is an exaggeration of the story.

Zer manages to convince the public of one of Argentina’s alien sightings. The spectacle remains unmatched on TV. Netflix stated “What follows is the invention of the most famous alien sightings in the history of Argentine television.”

But the movie is much more about UFO’s. It also captures some of Argentine pop culture history. Lerman, co-wrote the screenplay with Adrián Biniez, and delves into themes of belief, truth, fiction, and the nature of reality. Lerman’s cast includes Leonardo Sbaraglia as Zer, Sergio Prina, Osmar Nuñez, and Renata Lerman. 

The Netflix film is set to release on October 18, just in time for the spooky season. What fuels The Man Who Loved UFOs is belief and what we humans choose to see. The film blends comedy, existential musings about death, and the fine line between fiction and reality. It explores how stories are shaped due through one person’s perspective. 

Lerman revealed that this project had been in the works for years. He spent time in Córdoba as a child, where stories about strange sightings were common. While he didn’t believe they were UFOs, he was fascinated by how those memories could be turned into film. 

Lerman has been tasked with exploring what originates fake news. It will be an interesting film to watch!