Lion's Den (2008)
"Leonera" (original title)

An incarcerated woman struggles to raise her son from prison.

Director:

Pablo Trapero

Writers:

Alejandro Fadel, Martín Mauregui,

Stars:

Martina Gusman, Elli Medeiros, Rodrigo Santoro

15 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Martina Gusman	...	Julia
Elli Medeiros	...	Sofia
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Ramiro
Laura García	...	Marta
Tomás Plotinsky	...	Tomás VI (as Tomas Plotinsky)
Leonardo Sauma	...	Ugo Casman
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Cignoli	...	Perito Psicólogo
Federico Esquerro	...	Psicologo de Penal
Roberto Maciel	...	Abogado de Oficio
Francisco Marquez	...	Doble de Ramiro herido
Paula Morales	...	Interna enbarazada
Nancy Paredes	...	Personal penitenciario
Roxana Quineche	...	Interna pelea
Ricardo Ragendorfer	...	Juez de Instrucción (as Ricardo Raguendorfer)
Guadalupe Rébora	...	Amiga

Storyline

Julia, a 25 year-old university student, two weeks pregnant, with no criminal record, is sent to prison. Julia murdered the father of her child. This story addresses maternity, jail and Justice; confinement, guilt and solitude; but above all it deals with Julia and her son, Tomas, born inside an Argentinean prison.

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Plot Keywords:

jail | fighting women | arson | murder suspect | zoo | 

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Taglines:

Motherhood Behind Bars

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Argentina South Korea Brazil

Language:

Spanish French

Release Date:

29 May 2008 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Aslan ini

Filming Locations:

Batán Penitentiary, Batán, Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,484 (USA) (3 July 2009)

Gross:

$13,689 (USA) (9 October 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Matanza Cine, Patagonik Film Group, Cineclick Asia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in real prisons and many actors are real prisoners.

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Soundtracks

"Duermete Niño"
Written by Pity Álvarez (as Cristian "Pity" Álvarez)
Performed by Intoxicados

User Reviews

Gripping.....

This is really powerful cinema presented by Pablo Trapero. The movie, the performances and the location will leave you breathless. This movie is not only about a mother's struggle about raising her child in a prison, but it goes much beyond it in a bold, brutal and beautiful way. The whole movie is about love, mother's love for his child, love between two human beings and the extent to which a mother will go to get her child back. Shooting the movie in a real prison and adding this to a very clever use of background prison noises creates an atmosphere which makes the whole presentation even more gripping. Usually the prison movies will depict the prisoners and the prison guards as brutal, heartless and inhuman beings, but in this movie Trapero tried to touch the softer, more humane side of the inmates and the guards. Even though I don't know Spanish , but I loved watching this movie. Martine Gusman's wonderful performance makes this movie a must see for the serious cinema lovers.