CARANCHO
Argentina, 2010, 107 minutes, Colour.
Richard Darin, Martina Gusman.
Directed by Pablo Trapero.
Pablo Trapero has kept his eye on social issues in Argentina for over ten years. He has been concerned with justice, crime and the police. He offers a different angle on these issues this time: accidents, ambulance chasers, litigation and legislation that allows ‘foundations’ to skim large amounts from insurance payouts.
Carancho starts with an accident where Sosa (popular Argentinian actor, Richard Darin) trying to get a client but being beaten up by his boss’s henchman as he is trying to get his independence back – and to do the right thing by clients. He encounters a strict and hard-working doctor (Martina Guzman) who initially disapproves of him but comes to trust him and fall in love. We see from the outset that, despite her hard work (which does not preclude mistakes) and her tiredness, she is also drug dependent.
Many accidents, clients and bashings later (including of the doctor), Sosa and Lujan and the audience are ready for a dramatic showdown. It is violent and highly emotional and, safe to say, problems are not resolved. Darin is a strong screen presence but it is very surprising that Guzman’s initially determined doctor turn into an emotional and mushy mess by the end.
1. Argentian issues, visual style, moods?
2. The Argentinian city, the hospitals, interiors, streets, accidents, offices? A sense of realism?
3. The information about insurance, lawyers, organisations, schemes, frauds? The feeling about the frauds? The pessimistic ending?
4. The initial accident, Sosa and his work, his being bashed? Lujan and her foot, the injection? Her service, the ambulance, the details of her work, the victims, encountering Sosa, his stitches?
5. Her mistrust of him, avoiding him? Sosa attracted to her? Wanting to explain?
6. Lujan and her work, her needing the drugs, the mistake, being overtired, the demands of work and hours? At home, her interactions with the ambulance driver? Sharing the grief of her patients?
7. Sosa, with his boss, the henchmen, the contacts, the clients, the explanations of the system? Sosa wanting his independence?
8. The bosses, skimming the money, their control, threats?
9. Sosa and Lujan and their relationship? Love?
10. The final plan, the bashings, Lujan being hit, her fear?
11. The final interaction, Sosa bashing his boss, killing him, the arrest? His not being detained? The new boss wanting the money, getting the cash, the crash and Lujan and the ambulance rescuing Sosa and the money? The final crash and the pessimism?
