Year: 2007
Runtime: 99 mins
Language: Spanish
Director: Esteban Sapir
In a silent metropolis, any spoken word is perilous. The entire population has been stripped of its ability to speak, and Mr. TV, who controls the sole broadcast channel, orchestrates a scheme to dominate the populace. Those who whisper risk severe consequences as surveillance tightens, making resistance seem impossible.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen The Aerial yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of The Aerial (2007), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Der Erfinder sits at a typewriter in a nameless city of year XX, a place where voices have vanished and people communicate only by mouthing words that float in mid-air. The only exception is La Voz La Voz, a singer still able to speak, who works for the city’s sole TV channel run by Mr. TV. Clad in a hood that hides her face, La Voz guards a power that could bend the crowd to his will, and she lives with her son, Tomás Tomás — an eyeless boy whose voice remains a secret even as others have lost theirs. Tomás shares a borderless life with Ana Ana, a girl whose parents are estranged: her father repairs televisions for the channel, while her mother works as a nurse at the hospital.
When Ana misplaces a “balloon man” owned by the channel, both her father and his father, the old El abuelo El abuelo, are fired from the studio. The ripple effect deepens when Ana’s father uncovers evidence that La Voz has been kidnapped, prompting a dangerous alliance with the channel’s vengeful son to uncover the truth and spy on Mr. TV. The plot intensifies as they infiltrate the hospital, where the chilling figure Dr. Y Dr. Y subjects La Voz to brutal experiments, hoping to weaponize her gift to bend the city to their design. Dr. Y even theorizes that a second voice could counterbalance La Voz’s influence, a plan that leaves the team racing against time.
As tensions mount, the narrative widens to include the family’s domestic struggle. Ana’s mother Madre becomes a crucial ally in the escape, while the father, with the help of his wife, manages to flee the hospital and regroup with the grandfather. The family’s resolve deepens as they reunite with the elder to mount a counterattack. Their mission leads them to The Aerial, an old, remote broadcast station nestled in the snowy mountains, where a final, desperate plan must be enacted to counter Mr. TV’s looming broadcast.
The three families — Ana and Tomás, their parents, and the grandfather — don inflatable suits identical to the balloon men, lifting them into the cold sky as they approach The Aerial. Just as the elder completes the setup, a dark figure, El hombre ratón El hombre ratón and his henchmen, bursts into the station, threatening to derail the counterstrike. A tense confrontation follows, the gunfire claiming the life of The Aerial’s director, who somehow turns into an old woman in death, and Ana knocks the Rat Man to the ground. Back in the lab, Tomás’ transmission sends Dr. Y into a choking fit before he is beaten by Mr. TV, ending the direct threat to the counter-broadcast.
In a climactic turn, the two transmissions collide: the crowd awakens, freed from the grip of the hypnotic broadcast, discovering a world where they can use their voices again—though speech itself remains imperfect. Voices return to the city, not as perfect speech but as a reclaimed power that must be spoken and shared. The family emerges from The Aerial with their new voices, ready to carve a future in a city that has learned to listen once more.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:43
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where oppressive regimes use media to manipulate a silenced population.If you enjoyed The Aerial's themes of fighting back against a media-controlled society, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features intense dystopian thrillers and sci-fi dramas where characters challenge oppressive regimes that manipulate and silence the populace.
These stories typically begin with an established, oppressive order maintained through propaganda and surveillance. The plot is driven by a discovery or a personal catalyst that reveals the truth, leading a small, desperate resistance to execute a risky plan to break the system's control, often culminating in a symbolic act of defiance.
Movies in this thread share a high-stakes, tense atmosphere, a steady build towards a climactic rebellion, and a focus on the heavy emotional weight of systemic oppression. They explore the power of information and the human need for self-expression against overwhelming odds.
Emotionally weighty science fiction stories that end on a note of hard-won hope.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional themes but positive ending of The Aerial, this list features similar sci-fi dramas. These movies explore complex societal issues and personal trauma within a sci-fi framework, yet conclude with a sense of hope and renewal.
The narrative follows characters grappling with profound personal or societal crises within a sci-fi context. The story methodically explores the depth of the problem and the cost of resistance, building towards a climax where a sacrifice or a clever solution paves the way for a brighter, though often imperfect, future.
These films are grouped by their unique blend of high-concept science fiction with deeply human, dramatic storytelling. They share a steady pacing that allows for emotional depth, a high-intensity conflict, and a crucial narrative balance between heavy themes and a ultimately hopeful, satisfying resolution.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Aerial in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Aerial is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Aerial with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Aerial. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Aerial that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Aerial: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.