Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Javier Bardem | ... | Agustín Rejas | |
Juan Diego Botto | ... | Sucre | |
Laura Morante | ... | Yolanda | |
Elvira Mínguez | ... | Llosa | |
Alexandra Lencastre | ... | Sylvina Rejas | |
Oliver Cotton | ... | Merino | |
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Luís Miguel Cintra | ... | Calderón |
Javier Manrique | ... | Clorindo | |
Abel Folk | ... | Ezequiel / Durán | |
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Marie-Anne Berganza | ... | Laura |
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Lucas Rodríguez | ... | Gómez |
Xabier Elorriaga | ... | Pascual | |
Natalia Dicenta | ... | Marina | |
Wolframio Sinué | ... | Santiago | |
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Ramiro Jiménez | ... | Sergeant Pisac |
The story of Detective Agustin Rejas, a man clinging to the hope of an impossible love in an impossible world. Tracking Ezequiel, a delusional anarchist who incites the downtrodden masses to join in his brutal revolution against the fascist government in their unnamed Latin American country, Rejas finds solace in his sense of self-respect and the joy that his daughter and wife bring him. Then he meets Yolanda--his daughter's soulfully beautiful ballet teacher--a woman who sparks his long-forgotten passions and represents all that is good and all that is corrupt in their troubled country. But she, who appears to be a shelter from the storm, may in actuality be the storm's eye. Ultimately, as the revolution intensifies and the net closes around hunter and hunted alike, the dancer's truth will prove as elusive as the revolutionary's cause and the detective's peace. Written by Sujit R. Varma
Very closely based on Guzman and the Shining Path Maoist terrorists in Peru, this movie is compulsive viewing.
The plot is fairly standard good cop tracks down bad guys - there are no bonus points for this plot. Indeed, some of the coincidences that arise as the film goes on are the weakest link in this otherwise near-flawless movie.
There has been much talk about the violent scenes in this movie, which are many, but especially the scenes with animals. My view is that it is no more morally wrong to depict violence to animals than it is to depict violence to humans, as long as no animal (or human) is actually harmed in making the depiction. We are told that none of the animals were harmed in the making of the film (and presumably also none of the people). As far as I am concerned that is the end of that matter - the use of animals, unhamred, for this purpose is acceptable. To argue otherwise I find, frankly, daft. However, I would recommend that people who get particularly upset when violence to animals is depicted should simply avoid this movie.
Back to the movie - the acting and the cinematography are superb. It is gripping - the film is 135 minutes long which is well past my attention span unless the film is really good. This film is just that.