No Return (2010)

A thriller centered on a man who is accused of a crime he didn't commit.

Director:

Miguel Cohan

Writers:

Ana Cohan, Miguel Cohan (screenplay)

Stars:

Leonardo Sbaraglia, Martin Slipak, Bárbara Goenaga

10 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo Sbaraglia	...	Federico Samaniego
Martin Slipak	...	Matías Fustiniano
Bárbara Goenaga	...	Natalia Kaufman
Luis Machín	...	Ricardo Fustiniano
Ana Celentano	...	Laura
Arturo Goetz	...	El Liquidador
Agustín Vázquez	...	Pablo Marchetti
Federico Luppi	...	Víctor Marchetti
Felipe Villanueva	...	Chaucha
Rocío Muñoz	...	Luciana Fustiniano
Antonia Bengoechea	...	Malena Samaniego
Daniel Valenzuela	...	Carmelo
Manuel Longueiras	...	Kempes (as Manuel Longueira)
Claudia Cantero	...	Fiscal
Marcelo D'Andrea	...	Brauer

Storyline

A thriller centered on a man who is accused of a crime he didn't commit.

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Plot Keywords:

research | cell | trial | complaint | lawyer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Spain Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

30 September 2010 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Criminal

Filming Locations:

Alicante, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castafiore Films, Haddock Films, Televisión Federal (Telefe)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Post-crucifixión
Written by Carlos Cutaia & Luis Alberto Spinetta
Performed by Pescado Rabioso

User Reviews

Where three families learn about the truth - and where it lies.

Slow-paced, quasi thriller which examines the effects upon three families when a member of one runs down and kills a member of another family while a member of a third family - because of bad timing - is accused and arrested to face trial.

The perpetrator, Matias (Martin Slipak) concocts a stolen car story for his parents who, at first, believe him; later however, Matias breaks down, tells the truth to his parents who then compound the felony by going along with the lies. The father of Matias even retrieves the abandoned car, drives it to a secluded spot and torches it completely. The family hunkers down, keeps a low profile - but emotions are raw.

Meanwhile, the father, Victor (Frederico Luppi), of the victim, Pablo (Augustin Vazquez) sets out to find the hit-run driver. The police, with nothing to go on (they think), are not much interested: there are many hit-run crimes, many unresolved. Victor begins a door-knock campaign in the area of the killing and eventually finds a witness who recalls a fast car which nearly creamed him in a pedestrian crossing, for Pete's sake, on that night! Victor makes enough noise in the media for the cops to start looking for that car.

And so, eventually they find the car driven by Federico (Leonardo Sbaraglia) who'd left his car with a dentologist (aka auto body repair shop) to fix the banged-up front of his car which occurred when, hurrying to get home, he hit Pablo's bicycle. Pablo was angry, of course. After a colorful exchange of heated words, Federico drove off - leaving poor Pablo to take the hit, less than a minute later, when Matias didn't see him in the darkness.

Blissfully unaware, Federico had gone on holiday with his family; on return, however, he was immediately arrested for the hit-run, charged and tried. Federico's final fate is entirely believable, even inevitable. Old Victor thinks he achieved justice for Pablo, his dead son. Matias lives on, riven with guilt, unwilling to face up. The denouement, however, when the three men meet in the final, tense, ten minutes, is entirely unexpected - but, entirely believable also.

You don't get quality story and cinema like this much, any more. Acting, direction and editing are simply excellent; and there's not a wasted frame, in my opinion. Story construction and plot are cleverly interwoven to keep viewers' interest. Some critics, however, might suggest the over-use of coincidence for plot development; ignore that. Just enjoy an excellent, contemporary drama that could happen in any town, any day, anywhere.

Give this eight out of ten. Recommended for all.

September 7, 2014