Lion's Den (2008)

Leonera is a very hard film to sit through. Added to the fact that this film is strongly influenced by the French New Wave, whose films often parodies the mainstream cinema with an absolutely non- linear storytelling, we also have a harsh and ugly reality depicted in it. Seriously, watching this film was like being slapped in the face multiple times, and probably it was one of the few films which i really wanted to turn off before it's ending. But okay, i'd took the challenge and watched it entirely. But dawn, that wasn't easy. You must be thinking: 'Well, so this film is not worth watching at all'. And it really isn't. However there a couple of good things in this film. The acting is good, though. Nothing special, but it's good. The cinematography is cool as well, but... it does not make the film any better. Again, i'm not a big fan of non linear stories, unless if they're really good and interesting. As you see, it's not the case with this film. 5.2/10

Julia wakes one day only to find herself bruised, something she doesn't seem to notice. Her hands show blood that she washes out during her morning shower routine. At work, she appears distant. That night, as she returns home, the impact of what had happened in her apartment shocks her because she finds her live-in lover, Nahuel, dead. Ramiro, who was also involved sexually with Nahuel is wounded.For reasons that aren't explained, we never get to know the reason behind the murder. It is never made clear whether Julia was the killer, although everything conspires to land her in jail. Ramiro has survived and he is telling a different story that seems to be the opposite of what Julia confesses to the authorities in charge. We don't get to know the motive for the crime.What follows is an account of Julia's life in prison. The first thing the guards find out is that she is pregnant. Instead of going to the regular ward for criminals, Julia is taken to the maternity section where women with children are allowed to keep them until they turn four years of age. Julia begins to see what life is going to be now behind bars. It isn't a pretty sight. Luckily, Marta, another convict with two children comes to her rescue one day when Julia is assaulted in the communal showers. Marta, also, wants a piece of her new friend, but she is kinder.Julia's mother, Sofia, arrives from France, where evidently she has been living for some time. The relations between mother and daughter aren't exactly the best. Julia gives birth to Tomas. Not having any guidance, Julia is awkward in the way a baby has to be fed, among other things. Sofia helps bringing clothes and other things for the baby. The lawyer that has been trying to defend Julia is not exactly effective in presenting her case. To make matters worse, the case is brought to a formal trial and Ramiro lies about the crime, which allows him to leave the prison.Pablo Trapero is an interesting director. His previous films reveal he is an artist that loves to tackle themes no other men would. Mr. Trapero co-wrote the screenplay of this complex story that is more than a 'women behind bars' story. He makes a case about how strange justice works for someone like Julia, a woman caught in a web of red tape and because of her status as a female in a macho dominated society.The best thing in the film is Martina Gusman, who is married to the director and who has served as producer for all of her husband's films. Her Julia is one of the best performances in the Argentine cinema, bar none. She is an actress to consider, even though she has only appeared in 'Nacido y criado' before. Elly Medeiros plays Sofia, the distant mother that suddenly has to face her daughter's imprisonment at close range. Laura Garcia and Rodrigo Santoro are seen as Marta and Rodrigo, the other two main characters of this harrowing account about a woman entangled in a web where she can't escape.

In Buenos Aires, the independent college student Julia Zárate (Martina Gusman) awakes in her apartment with gore everywhere and her lover Nahuel stabbed and his lover Ramiro (Rodrigo Santoro) covered of blood but still alive. Julia is pregnant and is sent to a special wing in the prison with mothers and pregnant prisoners to wait for trial. Julia befriends Marta (Laura Garcia), who has two children and helps her to understand motherhood and life in prison. Julia delivers Tomás (Tomas Plotinsky) and sooner her mother tries to kidnap her grandson, causing a rebellion in Julia's wing. When Ramiro, who was also Julia's lover, accuses her of murdering Nahuel, her expectation of raising Tomás is frustrated.Movies about prison are usually interesting and in this regard "Leonera" is engaging. I do not recall any other movie of this theme showing a mother raising her son in this environment, especially in a Third World country. The humanity of the guards in the Argentinean prison surprises. However, the screenplay of "Leonera" is a complete mess in the development of the lead character Julia. If this story was based on a true event, I could understand the non-conclusive situation; however, it is fictional and there are many flaws in Julia's character and the most obvious is whether she is guilty or innocent. The viewer never knows if she killed her lover Nahuel or not. Then she rejects her baby and tries to provoke an abortion, hitting her womb several times; why she changes her behavior after the birth of Tomás is again never clear. I recall that one prisoner tells her that the wing where she is imprisoned is totally different from the rest of the prison. Last but not the least, her triangle of love with Nahuel and Ramiro is extremely confused, considering that Ramiro is the lover of Nahuel. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Leonera"

This is really powerful cinema presented by Pablo Trapero. The movie, the performances and the location will leave you breathless. This movie is not only about a mother's struggle about raising her child in a prison, but it goes much beyond it in a bold, brutal and beautiful way. The whole movie is about love, mother's love for his child, love between two human beings and the extent to which a mother will go to get her child back. Shooting the movie in a real prison and adding this to a very clever use of background prison noises creates an atmosphere which makes the whole presentation even more gripping. Usually the prison movies will depict the prisoners and the prison guards as brutal, heartless and inhuman beings, but in this movie Trapero tried to touch the softer, more humane side of the inmates and the guards. Even though I don't know Spanish , but I loved watching this movie. Martine Gusman's wonderful performance makes this movie a must see for the serious cinema lovers.