BLACKTHORN

US/Spain/Bolivia, 2013, 103 minutes, Colour.
Sam Shepherd, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Nikolai Coster- Waldau.
Directed by Mateo Gil.

Blackthorn is something of a surprise. It is a Western but written and directed by Spaniards. And it is the continuation of the story of Butch Cassidy and his life in Bolivia after the death of the Sundance Kid. a speculation, of course.

Sam Shepherd has a very good role as the older Butch, remembering his past (as seen in flashbacks with Nicholai Coster- Waldau as the younger Butch) living a quiet life, training horses and living with a Bolivian woman. However, he has decided that he wants to end his quiet life and return to America. He sets out but encounters a young Spaniard and rescues him.

The Spaniard is played by Eduardo Noriega, fleeing from pursuers but intent on getting to a mine to recover documents and money. He is helped by Butch and, together, they flee pursuers, through towns, crossing salt deserts, in mountains… However, the Spaniard is not what he seems and has lied to Butch.

Butch arrives in a town where he finds the local consul is the man who pursued him in the past, an official, trapped in a small town and drinking, played by Stephen Rea. He has some satisfaction in finding Butch and eventually helps him to get out of the town.

The film uses many of the conventions of the Western and is in English. Director, Mateo Gil, has written a number of significant screenplays including Open Your Eyes, The Sea Within.

1. A different western? Latin American setting, Bolivia? The early 20th century? The similarity to American westerns?

2. The film in the light of the 19th century? The story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? The flashbacks, the life, the robberies, outlaws? The decision to move out of the US and Latin America? The travel and the different States? Etta Place with them? Their activities? The death of Sundance?

3. The film as an international production, writing, directing, cast? The Hispanic flavour? Using Western conventions?

4. The portrait of Butch, 20 years after his alleged to death, his own memories, the new life, working with horses, his work, his relationship with Yana? A quiet retirement? His desire to go back to America, collecting his money, setting out?

5. The development of the Bolivian mines, the role of the families, the companies, intrigue, thieves?

6. Apadaca, his character, his being pursued, audience sympathy, Butch helping him, the mine, his getting back to the mine with Butch’s help, stealing the documents, getting out thoufh the hole, fleeing, the Indians and families in pursuit? Butch rescuing him? Butch losing his money? Apadaca in his debt? telling the truth?

7. The town, the people, the confrontations? Going to the house, the siege of the house, Butch and his shooting, the death of the woman, his grief?

8. The pursuit of Butch and Apadaca, the different terrains, the desert, the salt desert and the crossing? Water?

9. Apadaca and Butch going in different directions, Butch in the town, people recognising him? The possibility of betrayal? The flashbacks to the agent in pursuit of him in the past? Now a consul in the outback town, his satisfaction in catching Butch, the use of frustration and drinking, his not betraying him?

10. Apadaca and the truth, villain, greedy? Butch and his regrets?

11. An interesting addition to the legends about Butch Cassidy, his character, life, the end of the legend?