Click here to copy URL

El mudo

Rating
6.0
120
Ratings
Plugin not supported.
Original title
El mudo
Year
Running time
86 min.
Country
Peru Peru
Director
Screenwriter
Cast
Music
Cinematography
Producer
Co-production Peru-France-Mexico;
Genre
Thriller. Drama | Black Comedy
Synopsis
Someone is out to get Constantino Zegarra, a judge with an impressive conviction rate — and any number of enemies. So why is it so hard for others to believe he’s the victim of a conspiracy? This black comedy and offbeat crime procedural combines elements of a paranoid thriller and with social commentary.

Someone is out to get Constantino Zegarra. At least that's what Constantino Zegarra believes — and he has his reasons. His car window is smashed, he receives a career-killing demotion, and then, while driving at night, he's hit in the neck by what appears to have been a stray bullet. Or was it? Constantino is a judge with no sympathy for sob stories and an impressive conviction rate. He could have any number of enemies.

This captivating second feature from Peru's Diego and Daniel Vega — whose debut, October, won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes — is a pleasingly slippery hybrid, a black comedy and oddball procedural that incorporates elements of the paranoid thriller and offers subtle social commentary.

Constantino's wound leaves him temporarily unable to express anything more than a faint wheeze, thus this authority figure, accustomed to making declarations, is reduced to silence. He is a man who has mercilessly adhered to legal precedence, yet, when no one seems to buy his conspiracy theory, he finds himself bending and finally breaking the law so as to smoke out his hidden adversary.

El Mudo initially confines itself to a stark style, with few cuts and little camera movement — until the Vega brothers begin breaking away from this, with an unexpected push-in, a sudden craning upward over an intersection, and a lyrical fusion of musical scoring and slow motion. Like its protagonist, this fascinating film begins with severity before gradually allowing itself to open up to greater expressiveness, and, ultimately, even compassion. - Written by Diana Sánchez
Awards
2013: Locarno Film Festival: Best actor (Fernado Bacilio)
2013: La Habana Film Festival: Best Original Music
2014: Fenix Film Awards: Nominated for Best Actor (Fernando Bacilio)
2014: BAFICI: Best Director & Actor (Fernando Bacilio)
2014: Fénix Film Awards - Latin-America, Spain & Portugal Cinema: nominated to Best Actor.
Movie Soulmates' ratings
Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings
Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.
Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

User history
El mudo
2013
Daniel Vega, Diego Vega
6.0
(120)
arrow