THE FURY OF A PATIENT MAN

Spain, 2016, 92 minutes, Colour.
Antonio de la Torre, Luis Callejo, Ruth Diaz, Raul Jimenez.
Directed by Raul Arevalo.

This is a vengeance drama from Spain. It opens with an escape from a robbery, a chase, shooting, a death and a crash.

For the first half hour, this is rather a slow burn but within time the audience realises what has happened. The initial chapter is called Bar and the next chapters are named after the three central characters. Anna works at a bar, has a young child, her lover is in prison as the getaway driver for the crime. Her brother also works at the bar. However, a stranger comes into the area from a more wealthy section of the city, spends a lot of time with Anna, begins a sexual relationship. This has quite an effect on her as she visits her husband in prison and, when he is released, she takes refuge in the stranger’s house.

We appreciate that the stranger is investigating the crime, the connection with Anna, and a flashback to the brutal murder of his fiancee during the crime.

When the prisoner is released, he is suspicious. However, the stranger takes him in charge, forces him to make the connections with the other members of the robbery, interrogating them, then becoming more and more brutal as he demands answers.

1. A vengeance film? The first 30 minutes and the audience appreciating what is happening? The transition with the release from prison? Jose and his using the prisoner to make connections with the criminals? The finale and his brutal vengeance?

2. The atmosphere, the bar, the chapters with each of the central character’s name is? Jose and his hanging around the bar? The attraction to Anna, yet wanting to interrogate her and get leads? The presence of her brother?

3. The robbery, the escape, the chase, the crash? The shooting? The flashbacks – and the brutal murder of Joe says fiancee?

4. Jose say and Anna, the relationship, her child? Visiting her partner in prison? The devotion to him? His release? Sexual encounter, his suspicions? Her leaving for Jose’s house with her daughter?

5. Curro, his part in the crime, in prison? His child? The visits of his partner? His suspicions of her on release? The control by Jose, the explanations of what happened, Curro and his fear, taking José to the gym, the chattering man, Jose stabbing him? The paying for the T-shirts? The further connections, the man living with his wife and child, the hospitality, the conversation after the meal, José, the fear of the man, shooting him?

6. The end, Jose having achieved his vengeance? The effect? Curro and his survival? Anna and her child?

7. The theme of revenge – and whether it satisfies not? Compensates or not?