Juan José Campanella directs Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil and Pablo Rago in this Argentinian mystery thriller where a retired judicial investigator tries to put his memories together from an unproven case where a young woman was raped and killed during his early days in the courts.

Like Zodiac or Memories Of Murder, this is about the grind and toll an unsolved case has on not just the victim’s loved ones and the people employed to resolve it. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by revealing we know who the killer is by the end of the first act? But given late 20th century Argentina’s somewhat unique political situation the psycho proves untouchable. God only know how they get around this rather major plot point in the forgotten Hollywood remake. So Darin and Villamil’s lovestruck investigators get a lesson in how the new Buenos Aires works. Instead of bringing a murderer to justice they find themselves clamouring for protection in a deadly landscape of corruption and conspiracy. There are major shocking twists, a jaded unrequited romance and an unbelievably well orchestrated chase through a football stadium that would make even Alfonso Cuarón scratch his head trying to figure out how they achieved it. This is a fantastic thriller – gritty, complex but accessible. And Darin once again proves an extremely likeable leading man.

9

Perfect Double Bill: Argentina, 1985 (2022)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/