Crónicas (2004)

Director:

Sebastián Cordero

Writer:

Sebastián Cordero (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 2005 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | 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:

Investigation | Journalist | Serial Killer | Child Murder | Psychopath

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
Manolo Sarmiento	...	Maestro
Carlos Cedeño	...	Hombre Enfurecido 2
Gloria Leiton	...	Esperanza
Joyce Macías Figueroa	...	Bebé Esperanza
Naidelín Macías Figueroa	...	Bebé Esperanza
Adrián Layana	...	Joven Violento
Ricardo Paul Gonzalez	...	Policía Mina
Azucena Mora	...	Mujer Enfurecida
Alfred Molina	...	Victor Hugo Puente
Andrés Crespo	...	Preso Medio Gramo
Hugo Idrovo	...	Lic. Orestes Zambrano
Andrés Meza	...	Guía Carcel
Amira Bustamante	...	Señorita Autógrafo
Boris Valverde	...	Médico Forense
Gabriel Paredes	...	Policía Patlo de Autos
Víctor Feratio Jiménez	...	Roger
Susana Díaz Nieto	...	Secretaria Sociedad Biblica
Lic. Diego Oquendo	...	Presentador Noticiero
Doris Muñiz	...	Señora Teléfono Público
Elena Del Rocío Murillo	...	Partera
Jaime Estrada	...	Señor Limpieza
Fabiola Villanueva	...	Señora Foto
José Adolfo Ramos	...	Niño Foto
Patricia Higuera	...	Reportera
Nancy Tamayo	...	Azafata

Directed by
Sebastián Cordero

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sebastián Cordero		writer

Produced by
Alfonso Cuarón	....	producer
Isabel Dávalos	....	producer
Carolina Fox	....	line producer
Bertha Navarro	....	producer
Lisandra Rivera	....	line producer
Guillermo del Toro	....	producer
Frida Torresblanco	....	executive producer
Jorge Vergara	....	producer

Original Music by
Antonio Pinto

Cinematography by
Enrique Chediak

Film Editing by
Luis Carballar
Iván Mora Manzano

Casting by
Mauricio Samaniego

Production Design by
Eugenio Caballero

Art Direction by
Roberto Frisone
James David Goldmark

Costume Design by
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler

Makeup Department
Lucy Da Silva	....	makeup artist
Regina Reyes	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Paola Herrera	....	assistant production manager
Karla Moles	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tania Hermida	....	second assistant director
Claudio Reiter	....	first assistant director
Mauricio Samaniego	....	second assistant director
Felipe Teran	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Barbara Enriquez	....	decorator

Sound Department
Jaime Baksht	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sergio Diaz	....	first assistant sound editor
Martín Hernández	....	sound designer
Martín Hernández	....	supervising sound editor
Pedro Mejía	....	boom operator
Santiago Núñez	....	sound mixer
Alejandro Quevedo	....	sound editor

Stunts
Julian Bucio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Aurelia Winborn	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalie Arango	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Chris Wallace	....	colorist: HDTV

Music Department
Gui Amabis	....	additional music crew
Gui Amabis	....	music programmer
Rica Amabis	....	music mixer
Rica Amabis	....	score mixer
Annette Fradera	....	music supervisor
Tejo	....	music mixer
Tejo	....	score mixer

Other crew
Frederik Bois	....	title designer
Gabriela Calvache	....	production coordinator
Mariana Gironella	....	script supervisor
Mandy Goldberg	....	assistant: Ms. Torresblanco
Mandy Goldberg	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Christian Hidalgo	....	production assistant
Octavio Hinojosa	....	production intern
Juan Pablo Rovayo	....	location manager
Lutgardo Vera	....	set
Arturo Yepez	....	assistant location manager
Quincy Perkins	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cabezahueca
• Tequila Gang
• Esperanto Filmoj
• Producciones Anhelo

Distributors

• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Tohokushinsha Film (2006) (Japan) (all media)
• Versus Entertainment (2006) (Spain) (all media)

Other Companies

• Cinetic Media  sales
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity

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:

Japan:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | 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.

Intense & Confronting drama-thriller.

Crónicas is more than just another lame and wannabe provocative satire that wants to prove how the media and charismatic reporters are capable of influencing people's opinions and emotions. In fact, it does handle about that, but it's definitely not a dumb satire. It's a harsh and harrowing social drama, set in an ultimately depressing environment and focusing on the inhabitants of a country that the pubic opinion usually neglects. Here is one foreign film production that Hollywood isn't likely to remake any time soon, and even if some fancy producer would consider a remake, you can rest assured that the content and especially the whole denouement will be changed drastically. The story entirely takes place in a small village in Ecuador, where a feared psychopath has already sexually abused and killed nearly 150 innocent children. New mass graves are discovered almost on a weekly basis and the petrified community fears the murderer will never be caught. The acclaimed Miami TV-reporter Manolo Bonilla, on location with his crew to shoot a documentary on the issue, prevents a man from getting lynched by an angry mob when he causes a car accident involving a young boy. Whilst in prison, the man provides Bonilla with a lot of detailed information concerning the murders and the reporter quickly becomes obsessed with the idea of catching the killer himself. In exchange for further information, Bonilla promises the man to do an emotional TV-show about his wrongful imprisonment. "Crónicas" benefices from a powerful first half hour and especially the climax sequences are ultimately fascinating and shocking. Unfortunately the middle-section of the film is somewhat sluggish and dull, but at least you can admire the beautiful filming location and the genuinely moving acting performances of the overall unknown cast. The film contains several unsettling images of violence and human misery, but the unconventional ending is far more shocking & disturbing than on screen violence could ever be. And you can even despise the characters for their action, because deep down you realize you'd do exactly the same. This film isn't a masterpiece, but it's definitely a film you won't forget easily.