Alberto Rodríguez adds to his prestigious career an uneven thriller that premieres in competition of the San Sebastian Film Festival.
The title of this family crime caper comes from the Tigers of Mompracem, who are the rebel army commanded by Sandokan in Emilio Salgari’s novels. Antonio and Estrella, a brother and sister from Huelva, recite this nickname to give themselves courage when they are alone or when they are faced with a difficult task. “Tigers are never afraid” is their mantra. Both are divers, like their father. Estrella can only descend to 70 feet due to a hearing problem, while Antonio has explored the depths of the 7 seas. Financial difficulties and health problems force them, now in their forties, to enter the world of crime, as rather näive amateurs.
Rodríguez has previously directed several renowned Spanish thrillers that blend action with human drama. In La isla mínima — the winner of ten Goya awards — the search for a serial killer coincided with the community’s anguish for all the girls in peril.
The Tigers adds an underwater plot that embellishes the film’s image but doesn’t contribute much to the narrative. In almost every underwater scene, the uncertainty and sense of danger come from Bárbara Lennie’s performance on the surface.
The main characters are lovingly constructed and acted with care. Antonio (Antonio de la Torre) is not only the best diver in the city, but he is also generous and respected by his colleagues. Estrella (Bárbara Lennie) is the pillar of the house and the brains of the operation. With so much affection, it is difficult to discern the reason for Antonio’s financial difficulties. The dark side, necessary to understand their transition to illegality, is too subtle. The siblings have no shortage of diving work, either working with oil companies or assisting the local police with underwater searches. But every time Antonio dives, he “plays Russian roulette with his heart,” in the words of his doctor. And he must pay child support for his two young daughters, with whom he’d rather play and teach them “things about life.”
The director’s expertise is showing in this thriller in a scene with a single gunshot in which he never shows the faces of the enemy. More often than not, he fails to achieve suspense, or even anxiety about the fate of the characters. Still, with this level of craftsmanship and the celebrated actors, it’s sure to have a successful commercial run.
Director: Alberto Rodríguez
Screenplay: Rafael Cobos, Alberto Rodríguez
Cast: Antonio de la Torre, Bárbara Lennie
Producers: Koldo Zuazua, Juan Moreno, Guillermo Farré, Marion Fouqueré
Cinematography:Pau Esteve
Music: Julio de la Rosa
Editing: José Moyano
Sound: Dani de Zayas Artea
Art design: Pepe Domínguez
Production companies: Álvarez Mazagón Films AIE (Spain); Kowalski Films SL (Spain); Feelgood Media SL; Movistar Plus+ in coproduction with Le Pacte (France)
International Sales: Film Factory
Running time: 109 min
In Spanish
