CRIMINES DE FAMILIA/ THE CRIMES THAT BIND.

Celia Roth, Miguel Angel Sola, Benjamin Amedeo, Yanina Avila, Paola Barrientos, Sofia Gala Castiglioine.
Directed by Sebastian Schindel.

The Spanish-language title focuses on the crimes of the family, family ties – and ties that bind. However, for the most part, the crimes actually force members of the family apart. But, surprisingly by the end, there is some binding and reconciliation for some.
At the centre of the film is the mother of the family, Alicia, Spanish actress in Almodovar films, Cecilia Roth. The audience first sees her at aerobics, with her affluent friends. She is not a sympathetic character, arrogant in her manner, yet very tender in her looking after the little boy, the son of the maid, Gladys, a woman who is reserved and does not speak much. The film is very much a focus on Alicia, her devotion to her son whom she had spoilt, wanting to get him out of prison at any cost, hostile towards his wife and her testifying against him.

In terms of crimes, there are two major crimes, and two court cases, a lot of time spent in the courts, the role of the judges in Argentina, defence counsel, the attorney for the prosecution who has the opportunity to ask most of the questions of witnesses as well is the accused.

The first court case is that of Alicia’s son Daniel, who gives an impassioned account of himself, quite emotional, justifying all that has been done to him, his failure in business, his continued need for money, dependence on his family, his marrying his wife, the birth of their child, his drug dependence, his suspicions of his wife’s behaviour. Later in the trial, his wife has the opportunity to give her side of the story, quite impassioned, and quite different from that of her husband.

The second court case is that of Gladys, accused of murder of a relative – the audience has seen the corridor in the house, the closed door to the bathroom, the sight of blood, a mop, but is not sure what has happened. Gladys is inarticulate, reticent, but, ultimately, linking the two cases as to the behaviour of Alicia’s son and his stealing money and his sexual assault on Gladys.

Alicia wants a lawyer who will pay bribes to get her son out of jail, even selling the house, and alienating her husband who leaves. She succeeds with her son – only to find out the truth, a transforming experience, the realisation that she has two grandsons and her taking steps towards reconciliation.

In fact, a lot happens and 99 minutes – and it takes time afterwards to absorb Alicia’s experience and her change.

1. The title? Family ties, family crimes, ties that bind?

2. The Argentinian setting, Buenos Aires, homes, streets, offices, the courts? The musical score?

3. The opening, the closed-door, the shadow, opening the door, the repetition of this sequence? The audience wondering? Seeing Gladys? The blood? The final revelation?

4. The credits sequence, the camera roaming through the room, the range of photos, religious statues, the emphasis on family?

5. The focus on crimes? The focus on the family? The two court cases?

6. Introduction to Alicia, the aerobics class, chatting with her friends, high society? The later meeting with her husband? A retired engineer? Their son, Daniel? His phoning from the prison? Their going to see him at the prison, his mother concerned, his father formal?

7. Daniel in court, his opportunity to make his speech, the detailed self-justification, the audience believing him or not? His story, education, comfortable, business, the business failure, the need for money, meeting his wife, the birth of the son, his drug dependence, her working, his accusations about her behaviour, the alleged physical assault? Audience empathy or not?

8. His mother and her concern? Wanting to employ the lawyer, her husband’s resistance, his explanation of the high cost of money for bribes? His exasperation, with his wife’s moods and staying at home, his decision to leave? The selling of the house?

9. The second trial, Gladys? The scenes of her working at home, taciturn, with the baby? The audience discovering that child was hers? His calling Alicia auntie? Alicia’s devotion to the child, play, cooking, cartoons, picking him up from school, visits?

10. Gladys, waking up in hospital, the handcuffs, taken to prison? The interview with the lawyer, his secretary and getting the information, the information for the audience? Her unwillingness to answer questions?

11. The psychologist, interviewing her in the prison, getting some answers? The nature of the charge – but the audience not knowing the detail?

12. Alicia and her husband, the presence of both trials? Eventually her husband absent from Daniel’s trial?

13. The role of the judges in Argentinian courts? Presiding, questions? Their interventions? The importance of the defence counsel? The significance of the attorney, his privilege in asking all the more detailed questions?

14. Daniel and his interrogation, his self-justification? His wife, her long speech, the different interpretation of the events? The credibility?

15. Alicia visiting the lawyer, the expenses, the money for bribes? The decision to sell the house, packing up, her husband’s reaction? Leaving? Daniel returning home, eating the meal, proposing to borrow money from his mother?

16. Gladys, the interrogation, the simple speeches, the thanking Alicia and nominating her as guardian for her son?

17. Alicia, under interrogation, her antagonism towards the defence lawyer?

18. The judges, Gladys and the sentence? The possibility for an appeal?

19. Alicia talking to Gladys, the issue of the money stolen, Gladys revealing that it was Daniel, and his sexual assault? The impact on Alicia, that the boy was her grandson?

20. Alicia, her hostility towards Daniel’s wife, her change of heart? The issue of the semen and the DNA, a proof of Daniel’s attacking his wife? Alicia getting the document, going to visit the wife, giving her the document?

21. The visit to the prison, Gladys playing with the little boy? The appeal?

22. The crimes of the family tearing the family apart? Alicia taking her grandson to meet her other grandson, preparing the birthday cake, the hope and reconciliation?