Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999)

The world of Salvador, a young and naive petty thief is changed by the arrival of his cousin Angel, an ex-convict in search of easy money, and with a hideout. Salvador gets wrapped up in ... See full summary »

Director:

Sebastián Cordero

Writer:

Sebastián Cordero

Stars:

Alex Aspiazu, Simon Brauer, Marco Bustos

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alex Aspiazu	...	Alegria
Simon Brauer	...	J.C.
Marco Bustos	...	Salvador
Cristina Dávila	...	Mayra
Fabricio Lalama	...	Marlon
Irina López	...	Carolina
Antonio Negret	...	Martin
Carlos Valencia	...	Angel Caamaño

Storyline

The world of Salvador, a young and naive petty thief is changed by the arrival of his cousin Angel, an ex-convict in search of easy money, and with a hideout. Salvador gets wrapped up in Angel's twisted dealings in an attempt to escape from his suffocating family, dragging along his family and friends, in his criminal path. Where will this all lead?

---

Plot Keywords:

petty thief | graduation | wheelchair | female nudity | gun | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Ecuador

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

18 April 2002 (Peru)

Also Known As:

Armadilha do Destino

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cabezahueca

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Tough Slice of Ecuadorian Life

A difficult film to watch, Rateros is a rewarding, harrowing, emotional roller coaster of a movie. Marcos Bustos is Salvador, a poor teenager in-and-out of minor trouble at military school, but overall likable. Enter his inappropriately named cousin, Angel, a man who can fall in a bed of roses and come out smelling like crap. Angel is a junky and immediately proceeds to ruin the lives of Salvador and anyone else he comes into contact with.

As Angel Carlos Valencia gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance that is so believable and anger-inducing I nearly wanted to reach into my television and strangle him myself. This is a slice of life from an impoverished and almost hopeless world. Though extremely poor, Salvador is straddling a place between two worlds as he teeters dangerously towards the wrong one. Although it's evident early on he would like to rid himself, tough guy Angel's cries to Salvador for help work in a revolting passive aggressive way that threatens violence at all times.

Inspiration and hope come from Salvador's understanding girlfriend, Mayra and another cousin the wealthy, sympathetic and beautifully bored, Carolina.

Silent witness to all and symbol of the film's grim realities sits the boy's shared grandma, wheelchair bound and comatose, more dead than alive and helpless to do more than just sit there.

A powerful, sad and thought provoking tale.