LA IRA DI DIOS/ THE WRATH OF GOD

Argentina, 2022, 97 minutes, Colour.

Macarena Achaga, Juan Minujin, Diego Peretti.

Directed by Sebastian Schindel.

The title, obviously, has some theological and biblical overtones – which are referenced throughout the film.

The film is also challenges the audience, working in two time eras, 12 years apart.

The film also focuses on sexual harassment, legal issues, tensions between husband and wife, depression, killings and suicide, and the investigations by a journalist.

The director is a novelist, celebrated, working with his secretary, attempting to kiss her – with consequent ambiguities and some disastrous consequences for those concerned. And this is complicated by the novelist‘s wife, a ballet dancer, injured, depressed, getting the information about the kiss, killing her daughter, killing herself.

The journalist enters, the audience identifying with him in his investigations.

And the setting is Argentina.

1. Title? The explanation in Kloster’s final speech? Punishment, vengeance?
2. Argentina, the settings, the city streets, homes, book launches, beach sequences, hospitals, homes for the elderly? The fires? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Kloster, his successful novel, the launch, the crowds and applause, his speech? Esteban urging him to speak to Luciana, the confrontation, the sound of Luciana falling?
4. The interspersing flashbacks with the present? Kloster, writing, dictating, Luciana helping in the research, relationship with his wife, her ballet career, the accident, her psychological state, his devotion to his daughter, bathing her, her love for him? Luciana and playing with the daughter? The episode, Kloster’s roving eye, the kiss, his thinking it a signal, Luciana’s reaction and leaving?
5. The introduction to Esteban, his work as a journalist, flashbacks to his dictating to Luciana? The revelation of his article against Kloster 10 years earlier? The role of the editor, giving him leave to investigate Kloster? The contact from Luciana, his visiting her, her story, the deaths of the members of her family? Her blending Kloster, the visuals of being present at the deaths?
6. Luciana and her mental state, her place in the home, her work with authors, her bonding with Valentina? The repercussions of the harassment? Vindictive against Kloster? The range of the deaths, the seaside, the life-saving brother and his drowning? The mushrooms, the research, her father’s death? Episodes in Kloster’s novels? The brother, the accusation of the affair, the bashing, the anonymous letters, the killer escape from prison? The fire, burning the home, her mother’s death?
7. Esteban, the ambiguities in his attitudes, investigation, the past, helping Luciana? The past article, his being fired? At home, Luciana wanting to meet Kloster, going to the book launch? His final dismay?
8. Kloster, audience suspicion of him, his capacity as a novelist, to imagine, the research by Luciana, the possibility of his arranging the deaths of her family?
9. The revelation of Valentina, wary of Luciana, her friends, ballet school, the revelation that they had met with Kloster, his new novel, their involvement, the funeral, Valentina with Kloster, Esteban and the confrontation?
10. Luciana, the confrontation with Kloster, his talking to her about her mental state, his eyes glancing to the ground, suggesting the suicide?
11. The complexity of the plot – giving enough for audiences to ponder, to discuss?