A new documentary titled Millionaire examines the intersection of fortune and misfortune through the story of a humble farmer from southern Chile. The film centers on the widely held fantasy of winning a life-altering lottery prize, but it explores this concept through a dramatic inversion. The narrative follows Javier Zapata, a farmer and gambler from the rural community of Los Ángeles, who becomes the winner of his country’s largest lottery. However, the initial joy of this incredible event quickly transforms into anguish when he discovers the winning ticket has been completely ruined. This central conflict sets the stage for a story that is not just about a single event, but about the prolonged and arduous journey to reclaim a dream. The documentary uses this powerful premise—the universal hope of a sudden windfall—to delve into a deeply personal yet broadly resonant human story.
The Narrative of a Ruined Dream
The documentary meticulously reconstructs the events that began in late March 2018, when Javier Zapata held the winning ticket for the Kino lottery. The prize was a staggering sum, equivalent to $2.5 million at the time, an amount capable of fundamentally changing his life. The film chronicles the immediate aftermath of the ticket’s destruction, launching the viewer into an odyssey. This journey is not a solitary one; Zapata is joined by his family and friends, who become his support system in the quest to validate his claim. The narrative extends far beyond the initial incident, documenting a persistent legal battle that continues in the Chilean court system. This element of an unresolved conflict lends the documentary a sense of immediacy and suspense. The complexity of Zapata’s situation is further compounded by the fact that he was not the only individual to come forward to claim the prize, a development that complicates the investigation and adds another layer to his personal fight.
A Portrait of Rural Life and Community
Beyond its central plot, Millionaire functions as a detailed portrait of a specific cultural environment, framed as a real-life tragicomic story. Instead of relying on a single narrator, the documentary constructs its story from a polyphony of voices. It features extensive testimony from Javier Zapata’s immediate circle, including his family members, childhood friends, a former co-worker, and even a former administrator of the Kino lottery. This method captures a defining characteristic of the rural community, where, as the filmmakers observed, “everyone has their own version of what happened.” The documentary embraces this local tendency for storytelling, which includes personal spins and occasional exaggeration, presenting it as an authentic feature of the region’s cultural fabric. This strategy elevates the community itself to the level of a central character. The film also delves into the broader themes of rural Chilean life, depicting a world of sacrifice and relentless hard work—milking cows at dawn, selling cheese—that stands in stark contrast to urban existence. The “tragicomic” quality emerges organically from this context, as community members recount Zapata’s loss not with pure sorrow, but “with a lot of grace,” a resilient and humorous perspective that guided the filmmakers’ approach.
Behind the Lens: The Making of Millionaire
The creation of Millionaire was a multi-year endeavor. The documentary is a Chilean production directed by the brothers José and Felipe Isla and produced by the companies Gran Montana and Fundación Kumelén. The filmmaking team, with Daniela Valenzuela and Ainara Aparici as executive producers, spent three years on the project after becoming interested in the story four years after the 2018 lottery draw. Gaining access to the story’s core required patience. The directors noted it took a month and a half to secure their first meeting with Javier Zapata, who was wary of media attention, particularly given the circulation of false rumors that he was secretly living a lavish life. This extended production timeline allowed the filmmakers to move beyond sensational headlines and capture the authentic reality of Zapata’s life. The final film has a running time of 96 minutes.
Premiere and Availability
Ultimately, Millionaire presents a narrative of hope, perseverance, and the unpredictable nature of chance. It documents one man’s struggle against bureaucracy and misfortune, supported by the collective strength of his rural community. The documentary is available for viewing on Netflix starting today, August 28, 2025.
