REST IN PEACE/ DESCANSER EN PAZ

Argentina, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Joaquin Furriel, Griselda Siciliani, Gabriel Goity, Lali Gonzalez, Raul Daumas.

Directed by Sebastian Borensztein.

The title is evocative, indicating a death.

This is an Argentinian film directed by Sebastian Borensztein (Chinese Takeaway, Heroic Lives). It features popular Argentinian star, Joaquin Furriel.

The initial setting is 1994, in the Jewish community, the portrait of an owner of a factory, Sergio (Joaquin Furriel) falling on hard times, cheaper imports coming in, his extensive borrowing, the pressure of repaying loans. But he is a genial family man, a devoted wife who has a dental practice, a 13-year-old daughter and the party for Her Bat Mitzvah, a little boy turning seven. With the celebration of the party, the speeches, the daughter praising both parents, what could go wrong? But, there is a sinister presence at the party and Sergio collapses.

There is a revelation then of his business failures, the extent of borrowing, the demands for repayment and ultimatums, the encounter with the main lender, Brenner. There is also a family dispute with one of the members demanding his money back. The couple have not made payments on their daughter’s school fees. Discussions between husband and wife.

With a relative buying the country house, he takes the money to start the repayment when there is an explosion in the Jewish district in Buenos Aires, echoing an actual event of 1994. In the upshot, it almost seems that Sergio could suffer from amnesia. But, fully conscious, he makes a decision to save his family and to disappear – going to the border with the money, crossing to Paraguay, finding employment, successful, the employers getting the new passport and identity.

15 years pass.

His employer had collapsed at Christmas party and died, his wife is in love with Sergio, but a chance encounter at the market with the former maid stirs him again, demanding her silence, his discovering Facebook and seeing images of his family, the boy growing up, the daughter with architectural degree, engaged.

The latter part of the film after showing the happy life of the family in Argentina, debts lifted, insurance, Brenner intervening in their lives, marriage, another child, prosperity, the focus is on the wedding celebration. Sergio leaves Paraguay, goes to the synagogue, discovers Brenner’s relationship with the family. He goes to the party, stirred, seeing the devotion of his children to Brenner, put on a mask, his wife seeing his eyes, then his going into the street, a final confrontation and his death.

For those engaging with the characters, a continued interest but some have commented that the story seems far-fetched and implausible, especially the final sequence. But, it is an intriguing story with sympathetic performers.

1. The title and tone? Death? And death? Actual death and consequences?
2. From Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1994, families, business? The Jewish community? The Bat Mitzvah celebration? The 1994 bombing and its consequences? Succeeding years in Argentina, prosperity? The contrast with life in Paraguay, shops and work, relationships? The musical score?
3. The introduction, Sergio, sympathetic, for Estelita, pride in his daughter, 13, his son, the future? The celebration, the dancing, the cake, Flora and her enthusiastic speech about her mother, her father? The change of tone, Sergio and his speech, the sinister presence, his collapse?
4. The revelation of the truth, reluctance to tell his wife, the continued failures of the factory, imported goods, borrowing money, from the lender, from his family, throwing the party, gift for his daughter, the family, Estelita? The selling of the country house? The family dinner, the attack and his saying it was an investment, the family fight?
5. Sergio’s visit to the lender, severe, demands, ultimatum? Sergio getting the money,, going to the jeweller, fixing the necklace, been caught in the bomb blast?
6. The family, the school, Flora and her fight, her mother going to the principal, the issue of payments? To avoid the interest? Sergio going with the money belt?
7. The news of the disaster, Estelita and her going to the site, the interrogations, looking at the photos, the scenes of destruction, of the dead, the wounded, those wandering? The presence of Brenner and the brief interaction? Her not being able to identify any of the photos?
8. The transition to Sergio, coming to consciousness, the head wound, getting up, wandering, the treatment, the ambulance? Motivation, getting the bus, to the border, the payment, into Paraguay, a new identity, the friendship with Gordo and his wife, the job, efficient, living quarters, fondness of the dog, his work, not wanting to do with Argentinians? The Christmas gift of the new passport and identity? Gordo as Santa Claus, his collapse, the funeral? At home, the birthday cake for his son, aged seven?
9. The passing of 15 years, his appearance, his relationship with Gordo’s wife? His living alone, the dog? His work, reputation? The chance encounter in seeing Beatriz, swearing her to silence? His curiosity about his family, learning about Facebook, going online, the photos of his daughter, fiance, his wife? But not seeing Brenner? The engagement, Flora’s comment about her father?
10. The aftermath for Estelita and the family, organising the money and repayments, the factory, the workers? The visit to Brenner, his letting off the debt? Brenner coming to see her at her dental work? His motivations, her response? Indebted, the children growing up, the marriage, another child, the yacht, Flora and her architectural degree, the fiance, the boy, working for Brenner? Time in Estelita’s waiting for news of Sergio, the life insurance?
11. Sergio, his decision to go to Argentina, the farewell to Gordo’s wife? His being admired in the town? The journey, his arrival, the contact in Buenos Aires, getting the clothes, the apartment, the gun, the note apologising to a profound him after his death?
12. Going to the wedding, the celebrations, in the synagogue, seeing Brenner, his leaving, at the celebration, watching, Brenner and Estelita, the mask, his eyes, his wife seeing him, his leaving, her pursuing him, calling out, the gun, Brenner coming out, the confrontation, the shooting, Estelita comforting him as he died?
13. The credibility of the story, the man in debt, the family man, the threats, the accident and his disappearance, a new life, the credibility of his return, the death sequence?