Kóblic

When you are a good guy but your profession, the place you've chosen in society, in this case, Argentina in the 70's and be, unwillingly, part of a dictatorship, you know that by not following orders you'll be forever an outcast. Revenge might be the only way out to clear your guilty thoughts and the ghosts from the past that might come to knock at your door. Justice taken by our own hands seems to be sometimes the only possibility when the Law is not enough. Ricardo Darin, no doubt an excellent actor, is somehow overshadowed by Blanco, an outstanding performer as the "bad" character in an Argentinian province small town. Truly amazing acting,showing how powerfully the "amiguismo",nepotism, which is the most common accepted form of corruption in the world, work in some communities and some countries. Perhaps translation won't help to show this important movie that deals with human rights and human actions.

With a scant script that resembles a simplistic Sergio Leone Spaghetti western - Koblic ambles along in a somewhat predictable fashion. Most characters are thinly sketched in a manipulative hit-on-the-audience way and not always convincing. There's the badder than bad, bad guys, the silent hero with a dark past, and of course, the beautiful young woman who lives with her nasty abusive uncle - she claims she does not want to have sex with him but chooses to sleep in the same bed (sorry, but that's more than a little odd) She then takes one look at the 'good' guy (who's twice her age!) and she's instantly in lust and ready to have sex with this complete stranger -seems in these small country towns no-one cares about getting-to-know-you or such things as aids, etc.

Performances are quite good and while it's not without some interesting dramatic situations - could have been more engaging with better script development. As is, it may have fared better as a 60min TV episode. The movie takes its time in letting us know what's going on via a few stylish but padded out camera shots and at times, one can watch some scenes in double speed --as people walk or ride from one place to another-- and miss little or nothing. Story wise, it seems the Argentinean Govt during the 70s-80s had devised a rather expensive and brutally shocking method to dispose of people who didn't agree with them. Lovers of the tough guy/revenge school i.e: Ventura, Bronson, Eastwood, Neeson, etc, should enjoy this but we've seen much of it before and maybe done a little better.

Set in 1977, during the days of the Argentinian Dictatorship commanded by General Videla and others . Stars former pilot and captain of the Argentinean Navy, Tomás Kóblic (Ricardo Darin), who during the last Argentine dictatorship, was a participant in "the flights of death" . Argentina's military dictatorship has chosen to throw political prisoners into the sea from Navy aircraft as a new means of execution. Former Navy Captain Tomas Kóblic is the unknowing pilot of one such flight, and upon discovering the gruesome fate of his passengers, he makes a thorny decision when has arrived at the most agonising crossroads in his life . As he disobeys an order and becomes a fugitive in order to survive . He gets away and chooses to hide in a small town in the south of the country, as he leaves his career to hide in Colonia Helen where the only law is a nasty Commissioner (Ismael Martinez). Then his presence will pay attention of the unscrupulous, vicious and violent local sheriff . The marshall don't trust anyway and the new guy in town and Koblic bothers him. Along the way , Koblic falls in love for a young woman (Imma Cuesta) who's mistreated by her abusive husband. Meantime , Kóblic realizing he needs to escape again, but he will not leave without bringing justice.

This exciting film contains tension , thriller , intense drama , and plot twists , including decent suspense with tense sequences especially in its final part , in a unexpected denouement , near the end . A psychological thriller about an upright captain who'll make a hard decision launching him on a journey that is as extraordinary in nature as the orders he was just given ; being surprisingly good and compellingly realized . The original as well as interesting idea is overspread throughout the movie , a man flees from a grim fate , arriving in a remote location where the only law is from a ruthless commissioner , but not totally satisfactory , including conventional pitfalls . Ricardo Darin gives a nice acting as Tomás Kóblic who runs away from the air force due to he did not want to follow wrong orders in the days of the military dictatorship in Argentina. Darin is an excellent leading figure of the most important Argentinian movies . He works since he was a little boy, and has obtained with the years a remarkable evolution from soap opera gallant and tv comedies . As he acted for several years in TV series such as Alta Comedia and Estación Retiro, where he reached popularity as a young leading actor in different soap operas, specially in Alberto Migre's productions. In the 90s, he achieved a great success in the TV comedy "Mi Cuñado" (1993), in which he co-starred with Luis Brandoni. Subsequently he became into an excellent leading figure of the most important Argentinian movies, such as : "El Faro" (1998), "El Mismo Amor La Misma Lluvia" (1999), "Nueve Reinas" (2000), "La Fuga" (2001) and especially known for ¨The secret in your eyes¨ and ¨El Hijo De La Novia¨ . While his contender is very well played by Ismael Martinez as corrupt sheriff Velarde, a criminal in uniform who has ties to the army. While third starring is the atttactive Spanish actress Imma Cuesta .

Evocative and mysterious atmosphere including a colorful cinematography , as it is finely photographed by cameraman Rodrigo Pulpeiro , shot on location in San Antonio de Areco, and Vagues, San Antonio de Areco , Buenos Aires, Argentina. Suspenseful and stirring musical score by Federico Jusid , a expert on dark and unsettling environments. The motion picture was well directed by Sebastián Borensztein . He is a nice craftsman who has made enjoyable films such as Un Cuento Chino , Sin memoria , La suerte está echada , Capitan Koblic , and various TV series . The picture won several Awards and nominations , such as : Málaga Spanish Film Festival 2016 Winner Silver Biznaga Best Supporting Actor : Oscar Martínez , Best Cinematography : Rodrigo Pulpeiro , Nominee Golden Biznaga Best Film : Sebastián Borensztein. Sant Jordi Awards 2017 Nominee Sant Jordi Best Actor in a Foreign Film : Oscar Martínez. Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival 2016 Nominee Grand Newcomer Award Mannheim-Heidelberg International Competition : Sebastián Borensztein and Pampa Films. Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana 2016 Nominee Latinoamerica en Perspectiva: A Medianoche , Best Film : Sebastián Borensztein , Pampa Films and Gloriamundi Producciones.

Movie is perfectly executed, actors are top notch and scenario is flawless.

The story is perfectly credible on all accounts (unfortunately).

Yes, the love story is foreseeable at the beginning and that was clearly intended by the director.

A must watch.

After watching this movie I thought it was an interesting take on what an Argentinian pilot might do after feeling guilty about their actions during the guerra sucia. However, I think that they try to spin Kóblic as being this hero even when he didn't do anything to prevent the deaths of more innocent Argentinians by the hands of the military. However, I do think the movie can be interesting at point and it does have good drama along with some twists and turns. The ending does almost feel like a hero ending, but I think that Kóblic's actions stoop to the levels of the military and he should have taken the high road. Although he was fending for himself at points, and for his life I wouldn't go to the lengths that He did to prove his point.