AN EYE FOR AN EYE/ QUIEN A HEIRRO MATA

Spain, 2019, 107 minutes, Colour.
Luis Tosar, Xan Cejudo, Ismail Martinez, Enric Auquer, Maria Vasquez.
Directed by Paco Plaza.

This is one of the many Spanish thrillers, well worth seeing, screened on Netflix. A number of them have Luis Tosar in the leading role, as this one does.

Ultimately, the title’s meaning becomes clear. The focus is on thugs, drug deals, murders, two brothers who are beholden to their father, the ruthless boss of the past, who now suffers from ill health and is institutionalised. His carer, Mario, is played by Luis Tosar who is married and his wife pregnant.

Mario has a long history, connection with the gangsters, especially with his brother working for them and dying. Mario holds the gang responsible, uses his cover with the old man, ultimately working to confront them and bring their downfall. The film focuses on the two brothers, unpleasant types, and drug deals going wrong, especially with Asian dealers and those from Central America.

Mario will have his day, making his revelation, going his vengeance – but, surprisingly, this film ends extremely grimly, with the death of Mario’s wife.

Effective but grim.

1. Vengeance story? Within the context of Spanish drug families? Addicts and dealers? And the background of the pregnancy story?

2. The Spanish settings, prison and release, hospitals and care for the elderly, ordinary homes, situations for drug deals, boats, torture? Warehouses, international gangs? The musical score?

3. The initial situation, the yacht, the two brothers, the man in the cage, the water torture? Kiko and his age, mania, Tonio as older, in charge? The introduction to their father, his past career, brutality, drug empire, wealth, age, in therapy, learning to move his hands and limbs, his decision to go into elderly care rather than return home, not wanting his sons to inherit, the reactions, visits, threats and angers?

4. The old man, his reputation, on leave from prison, permission to go to the home? Mercedes and the arrangements, her running of the facility, the range of members of the staff? The elderly, their activities, difficulties in dealing with the whims of the elderly?

5. Mario, his work as a nurse, assigned to the old man, his knowing who he was? Working with him, the detail? The visits of his sons? Helping the old man, then getting the drugs, injecting him with heroin, his health deteriorating? The various terms? Mario not under suspicion? The response of the doctors, Mercedes and the nurses?

6. Mario, his relationship with Julia, the happy scenes at home, Julia and her pregnancy, the going to the birthing tutorials, laughing? Watching the television together? Going to watch the scan? Delight in anticipation?

7. The background of the brothers, the Colombians, Mrs Kong and the deals, their being set up, their not having the money to pay the debts, the warehouse, the betrayals, Kiko fleeing, his arrest, in jail, treatment in jail, his fears?

8. The old man, his turns, Mario and the continued injections? The gradual revelation of Mario and his motivations, his brother, addict, dealer for the family, his death? Mario and revenge?

9. Tonio, his henchman and his brutality? The old man’s death? The henchman and his going to the hospital?

10. The birth sequence, the difficulties of the birth, Julia and her being apprehensive for Mario, his being absent, finally arriving, the birth, her delight, sitting in the room with the baby?

11. The grimmest of endings, Julia and her being shot? Mario finding her, the baby? The emotional impact of this kind of ending?