Long Film Review 2 - El Angel

El Ángel (2018)

Directed by: Luis Ortega

Written by: Sergio Olguín, Luis Ortega

Produced by: Agustín Almodóvar

Starring: Chino Darin, Lorenzo Ferro, Daniel Fanego

Run-time: 126 Minutes

     El Ángel artfully follows the real life depiction of Carlos Robledo Puch -- an Argentine serial killer who is currently the longest serving prisoner in Argentina. The film begins with Carlos, played by Lorenzo Ferro, both casually and charismatically breaking into large and beautiful homes in Buenos Aires. He proudly breaks into a home, walks into the main room in broad daylight, and puts a record of vibrant pop music on blast. He dances around to the tune of the music while grabbing whatever he wants. He describes himself as “a spy for God, straight from Heaven.” The narrative follows the escalation of his crimes and how and why Carlos came to have the name, “The Angel of Death.” He begins with “harmless” robberies, giving most of the belongings he steals to his family and friends, and spirals to homicides, abductions, and rape. Through the beautiful cinematography, witty screenwriting, and the charming characterization of Carlos, a.k.a. “The Angel,” a captivating story is told.

     In the beginning of the film, Carlos compares stealing to freedom when he says, “Doesn’t anyone consider being free?” The paradox between criminal activity, which typically leads to incarceration, and freedom is very intriguing. Right from the beginning, I was in a state of confusion. I felt like I was supposed to dislike this character. He steals. He feels no remorse. He kills. He lies. And yet, he is somehow likeable.

     The casting of Lorenzo Ferro for Carlos Robledo Puch could not have been more accurate. He resembles the real “Angel of Death” at age twenty in every physical aspect. The cinematography emulates his attractiveness through focusing on his “baby-face” and his luscious blonde curls. Along with that, he personifies narcissism and a strange disconnect from emotion in a way that is immensely believable.

     As humans, we always want a reason for the brokenness in our world. If there is a person who commits heinous crimes, we delve into their upbringings to figure out what made them “them.” In this case, there is never really a reason for his deviations. The film does not cover any of his childhood; it only covers the time in which he begins acting out. But, I think that is the point. Some people are just horrible, and there really is no explanation or rationalization for their actions. He seems like he comes from a humble family. There is a scene in the beginning of the film where he comes home from a robbery. He is playing a simple, but happy melody on the piano, and his mother walks in. After that, his father comes in to listen. It is revealed that he does not come from a particularly rich family -- they are of the working class and his father is an honest salesman.

     Despite the normal home environment he lives in, the progression of the film reveals that no matter where Carlos is, he seems to get himself into trouble. He provokes a fight with a handsome student at his school, Ramon, played by Chino Darin. From there, a twisted and toxic relationship comes from Ramon and his drug addicted, ex-convict father, played by Daniel Fanego. As the father of Ramon teacher Carlos how to use a gun, he immediately becomes enamored by it -- wanting to shoot it again the minute after he shoots it the first time. The simplicity of the scene brings up the theme that people have the power to corrupt others in the way that Carlos was so easily influenced by Ramon and his father.

     Although typically the plot having “holes” in it is a critique, with El Ángel, it was purposeful. Carlos was without a doubt romanticized -- which is not a new thing to do for serial killers through the lens of cinema. It has been done time and time again The crimes that the screenwriter chose to discard from the narrative would have totally changed the movie had he decided to add them. If there were scenes in the film of Carlos abducting, raping, and murdering two young woman -- as he did in real life -- any attractiveness or appeal to him would immediately be disregarded.

     Even though the story was not perfect, the striking cinematography, colors, the retro music, and stylistic qualities make for a movie that is entirely worth seeing. It is important to remember the character is fictionalized in a way that makes him appealing -- as the film does so wonderfully. The movie finishes the way it began -- Carlos dancing in a home he broke into. This time, there is no freedom, as he is completely surrounded by police -- about to embark in a journey of incarceration.