Crónicas (2004)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Sebastián Cordero

Writer:

Sebastián Cordero (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 2005 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

If It's On TV, It Must Be The Truth.

Plot:

A suspense thriller about a reporter from Miami who travels to Ecuador in pursuit of a serial killer known as the "Monster of Babahoyo."

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Ecuador | Psychopath | Florida | Prison

Awards:

8 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Damián Alcázar	...	Vinicio Cepeda
Walter Layana	...	Vendedor 'Extras'
Henry Layana	...	Don Lucho
Tamara Navas	...	Doña Etelvina
Washington Garzón	...	Joseph Juan
Rosa Alina Ortiz	...	Amiga Don Lucho
José María Yazpik	...	Iván Suárez
Raymundo Zambrano	...	Cura
John Leguizamo	...	Manolo Bonilla
Leonor Watling	...	Marisa Iturralde
Alfredo Martínez	...	Amigo Don Lucho
Camilo Luzuriaga	...	Capitán Bolivar Rojas
Peki Andino	...	Sargento Saltos (as Peky Andino)
Pablo Maldonado	...	Hombre Enfurecido 1
Luiggi Pulla	...	Robert

Also Known As:

Chronicles (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, a scene of sexuality, and language.

Runtime:

108 min | Japan:98 min

Country:

Mexico | Ecuador

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Japan:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ecuador

Company:

Cabezahueca

Trivia:

This was Colombian actor John Leguizamo's first film in Spanish. As all of his projects have been in English, he felt awkward talking in Spanish while acting. He felt he didn't know the language.

Sebastian Cordero's big step!

In case you are not familiar, Sebastian's first big movie was Ratas, Ratones y Rateros. That was a great movie, it showed a side of Ecuador that hadn't been explores or showed before. He had the magic of showing a probably not unique story in a unique way, a Latin and Ecuadorian way.

In Cronicas, he does this and more. First, it shows a reality that may even be unknown for some Ecuadorian. It escapes from big cities and nice stories towards the forgotten towns that are only remembered for unethical journalism or plain mockery. Second, now it is not just a story showing themes particular to a Latin audience but applicable and important for viewers anywhere: masks and the true self, the blurry gray region between good and bad, the relevance of regret... and more.

One friend told me, before watching the movie: You will not see TV the same way again. In many ways it is true, Cronicas takes you to the untold and un"spelled-out" stories behind the fractioned images in TV.

I am looking forward to Sebastian's next movie.