100 años de perdón

This film is basically a caper movie about four men who plan to rob a bank, only to discover that the bankers have got there already, and the vaults are almost empty. It references 'Dog Day Afternoon' but is altogether too similar to that film to be truly original. Shot in Venezuela, this film was very popular with the local audience, but to viewers in other countries, unaware of the background to the film - many banks actually did have to close because of collusion between corrupt bankers and politicians - the film will have much less impact. None of this background is properly explained - presumably because the Venezuelan audience would take it mostly for granted. The acting is fine and it would have been nice to see some of the characters further developed, but there are too many neat contrivances and plot holes. (Why are the phones turned off, but not the power, so that the bankrobbers can still use the computers?) The script tries to be liberal, with one sympathetic gay character, but when one of the robbers gets shot ... guess which one?

Money is the god of our society. Everyone wants to have it. Under that excuse only the brave - and partly sane, partly mad - could rob without consequences. It's an elite where things are faked, a charade is played on the media. In a country as Venezuela, where this game has been continuously performed in such vile and at the same time mischievously way, the "stew" ("guiso" in venezuelan spanish) which represents an orchestrated theft in popular imagery, is quite longed secretly. The years enacted in the movie speak of a moment where robbing was literally allowed while people weren't caught, and at almost incredible levels of permissiveness. It's a reality that's difficult to be openly accepted, and venezuelans know it quite well. Maybe the movie gets deeply rooted into venezuelans, but it turns out that things like this can happen EVERYWHERE as long as they're - again, allowed -. Having said all this, simply contemplate pretty good acting, and also prepare to know about this particular historical moment in time in order to fully experience this movie if you want. If most people praises "The Godfather" taking a look at this movie will also help you understand better why getting money in such ways can be both hilarious and tragic. Have fun and judge based on your own knowledge. It takes only 100 years to forgive all what happened. Who knows?