Satanás (2007)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Andrés Baiz

Writers:

Andrés Baiz (writer)
Mario Mendoza (novel)

Release Date:

1 June 2007 (Colombia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Based on the Mario Mendoza's book and inspired by true events, tells three interconnected stories happening in the eve of the infamous Pozzetto Massacre.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Damián Alcázar	...	Eliseo
Blas Jaramillo	...	Ernesto - the priest
Marcela Mar	...	Paola
Marcela Valencia	...	Alicia - The killer
Isabel Gaona	...	Irene - priest's lover
Martina García	...	Natalia
Teresa Gutiérrez	...	Eliseo's mother
Andrés Parra	...	Pablo
Diego Vásquez	...	Alberto
Vicky Hernández	...	Eliseo's neighbor
Clara Samper	...	Lucía - the librarian
Patricia Castañeda	...	Valeria - prostitute 2
María Cecilia Sánchez	...	Young woman in library
Hernán Méndez	...	Mario - the chess player
Héctor García	...	Taxi driver

Also Known As:

Satan (International: English title) (informal literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence including a brutal rape, sexuality, nudity and language.

Country:

Colombia | Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:R | Australia:R (2008) | Mexico:C | USA:R

Company:

Proyecto Tucan

Trivia:

The film is set in the present time, although the real events that inspired it and the book happened in late 1986.

Descent into Hell

I just saw the world premier last night at the Miami International Film Festival with my wife. From the opening scene, I had the feeling that things were only going to get worse. This is the story of several people in Bogota, Columbia, set in the mid-1980's. It follows each of them into what I can only describe as a descent into hell, climaxing in a convergence of their worlds with an ending that will stay with viewer for a long time.

This film has a sense of realism that reminds me of other films such as Amores Perros and City of God (Cidade de Deus). There are some very graphic scenes of violence and there may be some who are offended, as it decidedly breaks many taboos. The name is Satanás, meaning Satan, so do not delude yourself into thinking there are any high or happy moments. The tagline reads 'Every city has its demons'; believe it.

In spite of it's dark subject matter, the film is still very effective. There are some weaknesses, mostly from a technical standpoint, but the story is strong enough to make up for these. The other weakness is that the film rambles on for a while, so the viewer is not quite sure where the story is going, or even if it is going to end abruptly. But the director and writer had a purpose, and that is to bring us to the end. The climax brings everything into strong focus, and you see that the rambling is, in effect, the build-up.

I believe this film has universal appeal. This film could have been shot in any major city in the world. In fact, the director did such a good job in filming this, that I forgot where the movie was taking place. I gave it the highest vote in the audience award, and this film deserves to win it.