Cenizas del paraíso

This a top of the line police thriller, crossed with sibling/father rivalry drama, criminal who-done-it, and psychological character study. Quite unique really, the film is worthy of its impressive Argentine pedigree: directed by one of the country's greatest, and starring an ensemble of its best players. They range from its eldest living legend in the father/dead judge role to its most promising and popular young ones as the three sons. In between, the talent is just as impressive. This includes returning native Cecilia Roth, and talented local actors, mostly seen on TV. A very entertaining and intelligent film worth a watch.

I've seen this movie from Argentina, and I think my opinion can be divided in two parts: the script and way the director guides us through it.

The script is an excellent thriller, with all the characters very well designed. The three brothers and their getting along with the father... you can feel their pain for his death. I think the scene where all they four dance that Greek music is breath-taking.

And the way the director puts us in the plot, with all the flashbacks. You never get lost. Separating the story in parts, it makes all much more clear.

Finally, thanks a lot for the update. I was sure Francisco Muro was not a judge.

Viewed this movie once, liked it so much I turned around and viewed it again. I would rate it on equal terms with LA Confidential and The Usual Suspects as one of the best modern crime movies. It is edited in style similar to Memento, looking backward while advancing toward the ending, and this worked to make it unpredictable and entertaining throughout. The movie was very well cast. Letitia Bredice in particular gave an outstanding performance as a highly sexy young woman, yet intelligent and deserving of sympathy in a Marilyn Monroe kind of role. Two other fine performances at the center of the story came from Cecilia Roth as a magistrate trying to work her way through a baffling crime and political interference, and Hector Alterio, also a magistrate, caught between his sense of duty and a situation increasingly threatening to his beloved sons. Highly recommended for lovers of crime movies.

I've seen this movie at least eight times, and I never get tired of watching it. Among the good reasons to afirm this is that is one of the very few Argie films that tells a story, instead of using film as a political weapon.

But in the other hand is his bright and excelently written screenplay (by director Marcelo Piñeyro and known argentinian screenwriter Aida Bortnik), its smart, precise and sharp directing and the gifted performances of all actors in it.

On the scale of 1 to 10, I'll give this masterpiece a 10, because it really deserves it.

I did not really get the point of "Cenizas Del Paraíso". The movie starts off in full swing and if the viewer doesn't pay very close attention throughout the beginning he or she is in trouble. I had to rewind the tape after about 15 minutes because I was so confused with all the details, names and events. And movies that have so much information, especially in the very beginning, usually have a story to tell, right. Well, the director did a great job at gluing the pieces together. Even with all the flashbacks I knew exactly what happened when and where and I was really dying to see what had really happened and who murdered the girl, and why. In the end I was not surprised at all, it was rather an anticlimax and I don't know what makes this movie better than an average "Matlock" episode. Sure, the acting is good (I really felt the immense love between father and sons during the dancing scene) and the plot is quite intriguing, but it's not executed in the best way. I wasn't expecting another "Usual Suspects" or something, but the movie made such a fuss about the murder I wasn't expecting predictability either. Oh, and what's up with the final scene with the brothers in the elevator. Maybe I'm complicating but is there a hidden message somewhere in there or is it just a final artistic moment. Worth for the performances, not the thrill. 7/10