RETRIBUTION/ DESCONOCIDO
Spain, 2015, 102 minutes, Colour.
Luis Tosar, Javier Gutierrez, Elvira Minguez, Fernando Cayo, Goya Toledo, Paula del Rio, Marco Sanz.
Directed Dany de la Torre.
The English title of the Spanish film indicates vengeance. The Spanish title, on the other hand, emphasise the “Unknown� aspect of the plot and the identity of one of the central characters.
While the story begins ordinarily enough, family at breakfast, children squabbling, mother harried, father going to work and taking the children to school, once the father and son and daughter get into his car, the tension begins. They learn, almost immediately, that there is a bomb placed under the seats and if any of the passengers and driver move, the car will blow up.
The filmmakers are obviously challenging the audience to contemplate what they might do in similar circumstances. A mysterious voice phones, wanting money, wanting bank transfers that Marcos, the bank manager, can do by phone. The police are not to be contacted. The children do not appreciate the dangers at the beginning but, after an associate’s car explodes, and the young boy has a leg wound, the tension within the car accelerates.
One of the difficulties that emerges is that they cannot contact the wife whose signature is needed for the transfers – who is not answering her phone, and is revealed to have a friendship with the father of a student at the school.
At some stages, especially with the desperation of the father, his continued driving, hemmed in by traffic and barging through, the voice on the phone continually insistent no matter what, not allowing the sun to go to the hospital until the transfers are made, one wonders about the probability of the plot.
However, by the end, there are sufficient rational explanations as to why the father is at the end of this bomb-retribution, who is a call it is, his proficiency in placing the bomb, his motivation for demanding the money. And, in the last half hour, there is a part respect for the audience, as Marcos is surrounded by the police, the officials thinking that he is to blame for the situation, the expert in bomb disposal being more wary.
Which means then that the film is an edgy experience not only for the protagonists but the audience itself. And, as suggested, it is not quite as far-fetched as it may seem during its first hour.
1. The title? Carlos and his responsibility? Luca and his vengeance? Luca unknown until the confrontation in the Plaza?
2. The city of A Coruna, homes, streets, the crowded centre, the beach, the port? The atmosphere of a contemporary city? The musical score?
3. The credibility of the plot? The unknown assailant, placing the bombs in the car, the danger for Carlos and his children, the bomb in the car and Victor and Julia, the explosion and deaths? The phone connection? The intense threats? The desperation for the money? The making of the bomb and placing it? Marcos injured, need for hospital? Carlos and the need for secrecy? Continual driving, moving, making the financial transfers by phone? The pursuit by the police?
4. The basic situation, Carlos and his work at the bank, going to work, the wife and the tension, her friendship with Angel? Sara, her age, absorbed in her phone? Marcos, his age, the dog licking the biscuits? The squabbles in the car? Having to face the situation?
5. Luca, the intensity, wanting the money, his money? Obsession? The phone calls, the placing of the phone, the bomb, his insistence to Carlos, blowing up Victor, concealing the connection? His arrival at the car, the confrontation with Carlos, the story of his wife, the the fraud and her losing her money and Department, her suicide? At the car, the cover, his walking away?
6. Belen, the bomb disposal unit, her strength of character, attendance, approaching the car, communication with Carlos, his signals? The confrontation with Espinosa? The presumption that Carlos was guilty? Prepared to kill his children? Belen and her caution? The squad, rifles pointed, Sara getting into the front seat with her father? Marcos and his being taken to hospital? The wound, the blood, Sara helping?
7. Marta, the clash with her husband, not being able to be contacted, Sara giving Carlos the information about Angel, her going to the bank, Angel with her, Victor and the explosion? The police? Her desperation, wanting to see her children, on the loudspeaker?
8. The bank officials, Carlos calling in, the fraudulent business, Victor and Carlos responsible, Mercedes and the transfers? Aleandro and his threats to Carlos?
9. In the Plaza, the police, the tactics, Luca and his approach and withdrawal, Carlos driving through the city, the police pursuit, at the wharf? Sara not wanting to get out, stay with her father?
10. Carlos and Luca in the car, the timer, the bomb, Carlos driving into the water, Luca and his death, Carlos rescued, revived?
11. Time passing, the bank manager and his offer to Carlos, Carlos ignoring it, going to the house, Marcos with bandages and limping, his wife and daughter, the glimpse and the ending of the film? The future?
