Cenizas del paraíso

This is basically a movie about family relations: brother with brother, father with son.

Judge Makantasis and his three sons get along so well you can almost feel it as the movie goes on. The scene where all the four dance in the Greek way shows us how well based are the love and caring from one to the others.

Loyalty among brothers, because of a girl. Loyalty with their father, and how their world goes upside down when he dies.

I think is genial the way the director shows the story in a non-chronological order, dividing it in as many parts as brothers. It makes you understand each one's motivation.

A movie about family, fathers, sons, brothers, love, loyalty, sacrifice.

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 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

"Ashes from Paradise" is a great, passionate movie, partly a murder mystery and partly a complex drama about lust and politics. It's refreshing to see a film with a crisply written script, sharply drawn characters and the depth. The director, Mr.Pineyro chose an exceptional cast of brave,talented actors. There are two murders in first few minutes of the movie and it would be so easy to stop at a straight police procedure. But the director goes much further. He tells us a story about power and corruption, about obsession and innocence, about loss and heartbreak. And much,much more. Acting is exceptional, raw and passionate.Great movie from Argentina.

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.