Crónicas is the second feature of Sebastián Cordero, whose exciting début Ratas, ratones, rateros, about petty thieves in Ecuador, was screened in Rotterdam in 2000. In Crónicas, Cordero shows the reality of the unknown Ecuador even more than in his first film. Here as well, it all comes down to crime, but of a very different order: that of a serial killer and child rapist. It is a film about the many faces of good and evil, about individual responsibility and maintaining humanity. Manolo Bonilla is a reporter for a popular, racy television programme aimed at the Latino population of Miami. He travels with his film crew to a small town in Ecuador to report on a series of child murders, committed by ‘the monster of Babahoyo’. After the funeral of several victims, Manolo saves Bible salesman Vinicio from the claws of a furious crowd after he accidentally runs over a small boy. Vinicio is arrested and Manolo visits him in jail. Vinicio turns out to be all-too-well aware of the murders and Manolo smells a scoop. In exchange for exclusive information, Manolo promises to fight to get Vinicio released. Although the identity of the murderer is known early on, the film remains an exciting crime thriller to the end. In addition, Crónicas is a committed film; a fierce indictment of the way in which some media concentrate on their own interests and lose sight of ethics. (ID)
