El Angel

Set in 1970s Buenos Aires, Argentina, El Angel (2018) is a gripping crime drama centering on the life of a real-life serial killer, Carlos Robledo Puch, played by newcomer Lorenzo Ferro. Directed by Luis Ortega, the film delves into how a seemingly normal teenager evolved into one of Argentina's most infamous criminals. El Angel is based on a true story portraying the shocking and terrifying crimes by Puch, also known as The Death Angel, during his short span of activity.

The film follows Carlos (Lorenzo Ferro), a charming and seemingly innocent young man with baby-face features that mask his dark tendencies. Despite his well-manicured appearance and cherubic looks, Carlos is far from angelic. In fact, he possesses an eerie calmness and detachment that serve as key elements in his escalating journey into crime. What starts as minor thefts soon escalates into increasingly violent activities.

Cecilia Roth plays the role of Carlos's mother, Aurora Robledo, who remains supportive, steadfast, and loving toward Carlos, despite his transformation into a criminal. Throughout the film, Aurora is depicted as a devout Catholic who is caught in a moral dilemma. She is torn between shielding her son and acknowledging the unimaginable reality of his increasingly violent nature. Her attempts to maintain a semblance of normal family life alongside Carlos’s father, Héctor (Luis Gnecco), is depicted as a heart-rending, emotional struggle.

Carlos’ good friend Ramón Ponomariov (Chino Darín) plays an integral role in the plot. Their complex relationship ranges from camaraderie to shared interests in illegal activities. Ramón’s father, a small-time crook, serves as a mentor to Carlos and plays a crucial part in propelling young Carlos's trajectory into the world of crime. These relationships amplify the unfolding drama, and propel the story towards its chilling climax.

While it delves into the life of one of Argentina's most notorious criminals, El Angel is not just a crime thriller. This highly stylized film offers more of a character study than a bloody chronicle of crimes. The audience is shown the transformation of an innocent-looking teenager into a serial criminal, while also exploring the societal environment that either enables or ignores this extraordinary descent into crime.

Lorenzo Ferro, in his debut role, is spot on as an enchanting yet menacing Carlos. Ferro's nuanced performance offers an eye-opening look at the dual nature of his character – the seemingly unassuming boy next door who harbors sinister, dark tendencies. He captures Carlos’s psychological duality brilliantly, offering audiences a mesmerizing yet unsettling portrayal of the actual person behind the crimes.

Director Ortega masterfully uses stylish visuals and a 70s-era soundtrack to mirror Carlos's complex personality and the society that simultaneously rejects and glorifies him. He meticulously crafts each scene, strewn with lustful desire, cold-hearted violence, and moral ambiguity, eventually forging a mesmerizing canvas of a twisted reality.

While the film is a nail-biting thriller, it does not shy away from exploring darker psychological and social themes. Yet, its narrative is not gritty or repulsive; rather, it is a subtly terrifying and crisp insight into a sociopath's psyche, adorned with dark comedy and interspersed with sequences of homoerotic tension.

El Angel also brilliantly captures the atmosphere of the 1970s Argentina, specifically the societal and political structures of the time. It gives a glimpse into a society where crimes and the failings of the justice system allow a 17-year-old to become one of the most feared criminals.

In sum, El Angel is an intense character study disguised as a crime film. It expertly weaves together a tale of an innocent looking teen turned notorious killer, while simultaneously providing a vivid snapshot of a society in the throes of change. The film was Argentina's official submission for the best foreign-language film category of the 91st Academy Awards, which underscores its successful and recognition. One thing that remains with the audience throughout the film is the irresistible charm and unnerving menace of the protagonist, reminding us that Carlos, like many of history's most infamous criminals, is far from being a mere statistic in crime annals.