Wild Horses (1995)

A road movie that begins when a man tries to rob a bank and the bank's clerk, a yuppie, pretends the thief has kidnapped him to help him run away. While they're running away, they meet a girl who becomes part of the team.While I may not know much about Argentinian cinema, I do know that this is a strange adventure. It gets increasingly hectic as it goes, with the second half being far more high-intensity than the first. The initial bank robbery and "kidnapping" are the least of the plot points.Luckily this never devolves into complete madness. Possibly semi-madness, but nothing quite like "Mad Max" though it does have elements of a world that is beyond saving.

There is a lot to admire in director's Marcelo Pineyro's 1995 film "Caballos salvajes". Mr. Pineyro, one of the best men in the business in Argentina, shows he had a lot to show with the material written by Aida Bortnik and the director.The film presents us two men, as different from day and night, from different backgrounds and ages. Jose, the older man, wants to take things into his own hands, making sure to get back the money the bank took away from him. Pedro, the young bank employee, is the innocent victim, being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Imagine the men's surprise when they find $500,000.00 dollars in a place where neither knew about. Jose, who holds Pedro as hostage, evidently had a definite plan of what he is going to do with the money the bank stole from him. What he didn't count on was the power of television and how he and Pedro become sort of "folk heroes" for breaking into the bank, and getting away with it. As a young reporter and his assistant follow the two men, they manage to get away with it, enlisting friends along the way. Ana, a young woman they meet by chance, becomes a member of the fugitives working their way to Jose's intended destination. The film becomes a road film with surprising twists along the way. The main reason for watching this film the excellent work of both, Hector Alterio and Leonardo Sbaraglia. Both actors show an easy chemistry and compliment one another in ways probably Mr. Pineyro didn't envision. Mr. Alterio, one of the pillars of the modern Argentine cinema, is a joy to watch. Mr. Sberaglia also shows why he has become an actor in great demand in his own country, as well as in Spain. Cecilia Dopazo, who is seen in the pivotal role of Ana, makes a valid contribution. Federico Luppi and Cipe Linkovski, excellent actors, have small roles in the latter part of the film.While "Caballos salvajes" stays with its action on the road, it makes for a wonderful movie. The last section of the film shows both Mr. Pineyro and Ms. Bortnik running out of ideas as they turn to sentimentality to explain the wonderful film that preceded. Aside from this happy ending, "Caballos salvajes" surprises in every level because of the joyous teaming of two of intelligent actors who exceed what the director was trying to accomplish.

Sometimes it seems hard to find an Argentine movie released in the last 25 years with a plot that doesn't depend on corruption or economic crisis."Wild Horses" was made in 1995, a time of relative prosperity for Argentina, so it's corruption, not an economic crisis that leads old anarchist Jose (Hector Alterio) to threaten to shoot himself unless a large bank in Buenos Aires returns the $15,000 he lost years before because of the institution's shady practices.Pedro (Leonardo Sbaraglia) is the yuppie executive chosen by Jose to turn over the money. The two leave the bank with a far larger sum and soon find themselves together on the road bound for Patagonia, pursued by police and paid assassins, and cheered on by the poor and the media as modern-day Robin Hoods.Unlikely as this story sounds, it works well enough, thanks to great acting by Alterio. Director Marcelo Pineyro also keeps everything moving along fast enough so that we don't dwell on the occasional plot holes. Federico Luppi pops up at the end of the picture in a wonderful cameo. His performance alone is worth the price of admission.7/10

This movie is fantastic. There are unexpected amazing things which happen at the start of the movie that make up for rest of it and make you feel like you don't need to see further.It is the story of Jose, a very decent man, not a thief at all, who goes to a bank to ask for $13,314 he was stolen by this bank for 18 years or he shoots himself.It is also the story of Pedro, the bank clerk who empties all the money in the Bank's Vice-President desk into Jose's bag. After this he pretends to be taken hostage by Jose to help him escape. Once on the run, they realize they've taken 500,000 dollars which belong to the mob. Jose only wants the the $13,314 he is owed.Joined by a young girl they meet on the way, The Indomables(the untamed), as they are called, begin an intense voyage of friendship, adventure and solidarity from lots of people they meet along the way.Their goal: Getting from Buenos Aires to a small border town with Brazil, where Jose has unfinished business.