ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST

France/Spain/Belgium/Panama, 2014, 120 minutes, Colour.
Josh Hutcherson, Benicio Del Toro, Claudia Traisac, Brady Corbett, Ana Girardot, Carlos Bardem.
Directed by Andrea di Stefano.

This is a sketch of drug lord, Pablo Escobar, from Colombia. it seems something of a sketch and might have been amplified to a miniseries.

As it is, Benicio del Toro gives a strong performance as Escobar, politician, drug dealer par excellence, some charm on the surface, absolute ruthlessness underneath.

The story is told from the perspective of the young American, played by Josh Hutcherson of The Hunger Games, who went with his brother, played by Brady Corbett, and his wife to set up a beachside home – but who is attracted to Escobar’s niece, Maria, and drawn into the ambit of Escobar, finally involved in the plot to hide Escobar’s wealth, from which he was not expected to survive.

For those who want something of the background of Escobar and his activities.

1. Audience interest in and knowledge of Pablo Escobar, Colombia, the drug world, cartels, shipment to the United States? Judgement on drug production and distribution, the drug lords, the usage of jugs in the US and pandering to this usage?

2. Colombia, the 1980s? Americans, travelling, the locations, the coast, the mansions of the drug lords, the surf, the countryside and crops? The musical score?

3. The title, Escobar in himself, his life, gains, losses?

4. The introduction to Nick, with Dylan and his wife, the brothers, their ambitions, setting up their house, the surf, lifestyle?

5. Maria, meeting Nick, the romance, stories about her uncle, the status, her personality, love?

6. Escobar and his politics, his reputation, wealth, charities, seemingly benign? His surface charm? The depths of his ambition, cruelty, using people, no scruple, violence, the world of cocaine, preparation, staffs, their lives? Distribution?

7. Nick, young, his character, love for Maria? Invitation to the house? Comfortable, accepting it, being charmed by Escobar? Knowing the truth? Being trapped within this world? Engagement? Escobar and his acting as a patron and mentor, the influence, the hold over him?

8. The media, 1991, the expose and its effect?

9. Escobar, his reaction, a war with the government, his exercise of cruelty? Controlling Nick, the escape plan, and his not to escape?

10. Escobar, his plan for his wealth, hiding his resources, the role of Nick, travelling, into the mountains, Nick witnessing the killings, escaping?

11. The drive, the track, the contact, hiding the wealth, Nick to die, his escape?

12. The savagery of the deaths of Dylan, Anna the child?

13. Nick’s escape, Maria, the shootings, going to Medellin?

14. The after effect of this episode and notoriety of Escobar?