LA CRUZ DEL SUR (THE SOUTHERN CROSS)

Argentina, 2003, 86 minutes, Colour.
Letizia Lestido, Luciano Suardi, Humberto Tortonese,
Directed by Pablo Reyero.

La Cruz del Sur is the first feature film of documentary-maker Pablo Reyero. The influences of his documentary style are quite clear in his presentation of the Argentinian countryside, characters within this atmosphere, and attention to detail in family, drug-running, bars.

The film is conventional in its subject, three desperate people pulling a drug deal, robbing the drug lords of some of the drugs, trying to hide out, involving the parents of two of the thieves. Inevitably, the bosses catch up with them and the results are dire - a rather pessimistic film.

The acting is striking, the authentic atmosphere is also very impressive. While the plotlines are familiar and if the film had been made in the United States, critics might well have ignored it, it is a sound piece of Argentinian film-making. It highlights how crime is universal, the universal problem is drugs, each of the characters being dependent on drugs. It also highlights issues such as homosexuality and AIDS.

1. An Argentinian film, perspective on characters, environment, drug crimes, violence? The work of a documentary film-maker?

2. The locations, the Argentinian countryside, the coast, the city, the wharves, the bars? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score, songs?

3. The basic plot, familiar material, young people and their addictions, planning robberies, deciding to rob the bosses, hiding out, violence and vengeance catching up with them? The particularly pessimistic perspective of this film?

4. The opening with the ambulance, the daring, the joy? The religious symbols in the ambulance? Their picking up the informer? Going to the countryside, Nora looking for her father's grave, the memories of his violent death, buried on the side of the road? The introduction of Javier, his relationship with Nora, his addiction?

5. Going to the bar, the young man with them, his being attracted towards Wendy, her pole-dancing, flirting? The arrangements with the bosses, the phone call? The set-up in the bar? Nora being at home in the bar? The young man going to the toilet, the sexual encounter with Wendy? His being knocked out, disposed of?

6. Going to the port, getting the drugs? The phone call, the difficulties in delivering them? The decision to take some, the help of friends - later betraying them?

7. The interactions between the three? Javier, his age, experience, addiction, love for Nora, their clashing? His relationship with Wendy, the transvestite brother, his love for his brother? Carlitos going by the name of Wendy, his antagonism towards Nora? The deal, taking the drugs?

8. Going to their parents' home, the background of the father and his time in jail, his violence towards his wife, his reading classics, his wanting to develop a resort, his ambitions? Not being an informer? His wife, oppressed, sharing the house but not the vision? Her husband's violence towards her? The support of her sons, her love for them, being protective, giving the bike to Carlitos?

9. The bosses, the thugs, the inquiries, coming to the house while the father and mother were trying to escape on bike along the beach? Brought back to the house, threatened? The search of the house? The father riding his bike over the cliff? The grief of the mother?

10. Javier and Nora going off, her temperamental outbursts, on the beach, wanting to get away? The map and the argument, the violence? The possibility of her being pregnant? The promise that they would have a child? Going to the hut, Javier going out, his being beaten by the men in the bar? His going back, Nora looking after him? The siege, the shootings?

11. Carlitos, on the bike, the breakdown, being befriended by Juan? The night, his illness? His being taken to the hospital? The thugs finding him there?

12. The round-up of the three, on the boat, the shootings, putting the bodies over the side? Nora diving off and them shooting at her? The deaths? The irony of having buried the money and the drugs? Her surviving and standing on the beach? A grim ending of crime not paying and the squalid aspects of drug crime and the inabilities in skills and intelligence for petty criminals to succeed?