Alejandro Fernández Almendras’ fascinating third film is based on a true story, making the unthinkable plausible. A subtle, yet impressive, psychological revenge thriller. When their rundown neighbourhood is terrorised by a tyrannical delinquent and his gang, home doesn’t feel safe anymore. Gentle forester Jorge stoically undergoes the mindless teasing, but his young adult son, frustrated by so much pacifism and passivity, argues back counter-productively. The family is driven crazy when threats are addressed to Jorge’s wife and beautiful teenage daughter. Tortured contemplation in his huge jungle workspace makes Jorge realise there is only one way out. Almendras has succeeded fabulously in conveying what feelings of powerlessness and the fear and anger that slowly drive you mad do to a person. Not about murder, but about what it is like To Kill a Man.
