THE MAGICIAN/ EL MAGO
Chile, 2014, 83 minutes, Colour.
Jean Paul Olhaberry, Alonso Quintero, Ingrid Isensee, Victor Montero.
Directed by Matias Pinochet.
This is a brief melodrama set in the back blocks of the Chilean countryside.
The title refers to a young man who has skills as a magician, has an ambition to be in a circus, is supported by his younger brother but not supported by his father who runs a garage for repairs and wants his sons to continue in this work.
While the film opens with a mysterious sequence on a yacht, the film goes into flashback explaining how a circus came to town and the manager of the circus, dealing in drugs and in importations from Peru, is approached by the magician to participate in the circus performances, but is rejected. However, the young man become involved in an affair with the woman in the circus.
Back to the yacht, the circus owner threatening the brothers, accusing them of double dealing with the drugs and killing one brother and throwing the other overboard.
But, the title of the film is The Magician and the sleight of hand and deception overcome the threats for the brothers’ survival and the magician himself going away with the woman.
1. A Chilean story, characters, relationships, crime, vengeance?
2. The setting and the village, homes and garages, the circus arriving, the big top, the accommodation? The sea, the surroundings? The desert, the tunnel in the desert? On the boat, the police precincts? The musical score?
3. The title, the brother, his ability as a magician, his brother’s support? The variety of demonstrations? The encounter with Negro, his abilities, his reaction to the brothers?
4. The brothers, the bond, relationship with their father, their work, going to the circus, Horacio and his ambitions, his younger brother supporting him? The father and his reaction against the circus?
5. The opening with Negro on the boat, torturing Horacio and his brother, the audience assuming that Horacio was killed, thrown overboard, the brother and his diving, escaping? The irony of the plot, magicians, disappearances, surviving?
6. Negro, the circus, the members of his staff, putting up the big top, the dwarf character, the henchmen, the woman, the lascivious performance? The relationship with Negro? The performances, the audience and the response? The brothers, their presence, trying to become part of the Circus, eventually some performances?
7. Horacio, his relationship with the woman? Negro and his jealousy?
8. The pursuit of the car, the disappearance of the car, the tunnel and Horacio discovering it? The drugs and the dealings? The Peruvian brothers, waiting for the twin to arrive, the act in the circus and his death? The threat to the other brother?
9. Negro, the threats to Horacio, taking him, the torture? The variety of tricks – especially Horacio and being locked in the safe and yet his escape, the woman inside?
10. The finale, Horacio escaping, with the woman, the younger brother and the police, his helping – and the future?
