Miranda, a fictitious country in Latin America, serves as the background for this story in which Arcibel Alegria's life comes to a complete stop for a crime he didn't commit. Arcibel, a newspaper employee's chess column is deemed subversive by the right wing dictator. Arcibel, who has absolutely no saying in the matter, begins a long jail term because he happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Life in jail is miserable. Being in the cell next to Palacios, proves to be a blessing. Palacios loves to play chess and has even made a miniature version that serves him well. The two men communicate by knocking on the wall the movements they want to play in the game. When a young inmate, Pablo, arrives at the prison, Arcibel conceives a game to teach this almost illiterate young man, a game that will serve as the basis of a revolution in the country and also his personal revenge for having been unjustly punished.
Alberto Lecchi, an Argentine director, co-wrote the screen play with Diego Garcia Molt. Mr. Lecchi creates an oppressive film from whom Arcibel can't escape. In fact, there is nothing this man can do, as everybody seem to be against him. The creators of the film try to show how a man's dignity is stripped away by egotistical and petty people who feel threatened by people like Arcibel, who never conspired to do such thing.
Dario Grandinetti, wearing a wig, is seen as Arcibel, a somber character. The actor plays him with that solemnity he seems to be asked by his directors after his work in "Talk to Her". Mr. Grandinetti has done much better work before, and it shows that when he works with a director who can guide him better, the result translates into excellent acting. We get mixed feelings for Mr. Grandinetti's work in this film. Juan Diego, Diego Torres, Juan Echanove, Vladimir Cruz, and the rest of the cast project the right atmosphere about life in jail.
Life in jail is miserable. Being in the cell next to Palacios, proves to be a blessing. Palacios loves to play chess and has even made a miniature version that serves him well. The two men communicate by knocking on the wall the movements they want to play in the game. When a young inmate, Pablo, arrives at the prison, Arcibel conceives a game to teach this almost illiterate young man, a game that will serve as the basis of a revolution in the country and also his personal revenge for having been unjustly punished.
Alberto Lecchi, an Argentine director, co-wrote the screen play with Diego Garcia Molt. Mr. Lecchi creates an oppressive film from whom Arcibel can't escape. In fact, there is nothing this man can do, as everybody seem to be against him. The creators of the film try to show how a man's dignity is stripped away by egotistical and petty people who feel threatened by people like Arcibel, who never conspired to do such thing.
Dario Grandinetti, wearing a wig, is seen as Arcibel, a somber character. The actor plays him with that solemnity he seems to be asked by his directors after his work in "Talk to Her". Mr. Grandinetti has done much better work before, and it shows that when he works with a director who can guide him better, the result translates into excellent acting. We get mixed feelings for Mr. Grandinetti's work in this film. Juan Diego, Diego Torres, Juan Echanove, Vladimir Cruz, and the rest of the cast project the right atmosphere about life in jail.