English Title: Wild Tales
Spanish Title: Relatos Salvajes
Director(s): Damian Szifron
Screenwriter(s): Damian Szifron
Studio: Kramer & Sigman Films + others
Released: 2014
Runtime: 2h 1m
Starring: Ricardo Darin, Oscar Martinez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Erica Rivas, Rita Cortese, Julieta Zylberberg, Dario Grandinetti
My Verdict: Black comedy comprising 6 short stories of retribution and catharsis (by violence). Good production. Not intensely black, still enjoyable.
Wild Tales is an Argentinian production written and directed by Damian Szifron, obviously in the Spanish language.
It is comprised of 6 segments that are basically short films with different and unrelated characters. Their plotlines are also unrelated except that all are presumably set in present-day Argentina and all focus on the themes of retribution and catharsis (by violence).
It can simplistically be classified as a black comedy but not intensely so and somewhat absurdist. Most have elements of a thriller, with a little suspense as the tension builds towards the conclusion.
It is shot and edited nicely enough. It is not too arty, typically comprising a good balance of conventional and more stylized techniques such as close-up tracking shots or (mostly) still wider shots to convey a surrealist feel. If anything, the stylization can go way further.
A few comments about each segment are given below. (Runtime is approximate.)
“Pasternak” (8m) – A woman boards a plane. Then a middle-aged man chats her up, he happens to be a classical music critic…
Since the conflict is not initially apparent, one is not quite sure where this is going. However, the way it builds is well-managed given that this relies on dialogue and has a short runtime.
“Las ratas” (10m) – A man turns up at a diner late one night. The waitress recognizes him as a gangster loan shark who ruined her family. She had left town because of this. The chef, an older woman, suggests killing the bastard with rat poison but the waitress is reluctant.
Whilst there are two conflicts in play, the waitress’s reluctance comes across as inactivity so the pacing is not quite right as it feels too static. There are limited ways it can play out and the ending, although definitive, is too abrupt.
“El más fuerte” (18m) – Man 1 driving his new Audi in the desert finds a much slower and older car in his way. The latter deliberately blocks him. When he finally overtakes the old car, he insults the driver, Man 2. Later, Man 1 suffers a flat tire and as he tries to put on the spare, Man 2 pulls over and gets out to threaten Man 1.
Man 1 initially wants to de-escalate but, of course, it doesn’t go that way. Although the premise and plot are straightforward, the violence escalates gradually.
“Bombita” (22m) – Simon Fischer is a demolitions expert. On his way home from work, his car is wrongly towed while he is picking up the cake for his daughter’s birthday party. He has to pay the towing fee, is late, misses the party, and his wife is unhappy…
This piece is in essence “one man against an unjust world”. In that regard, it is about everyday injustices and stresses. The ordinary setting and occurrences make the progression all the more absurd. It is the most predictable piece of the film but this doesn’t ruin the work.
“La propuesta” (23m) – A young man with wealthy parents drives home after a hit-and-run that claims the life of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. His father calls his lawyer to “fix” the problem.
This piece is odd in the sense that the issue is not just the father and lawyer trying to fix the problem but rather that the conflict is the negotiation for the deal between the parties involved.
“Hasta que la muerte nos separe” (30m) – At a wedding, the bride, Romina, discovers that the groom, Ariel, has or had an affair with one of the guests, a woman who is his co-worker.
The introduction and signposting can be better but otherwise the pacing is not bad. It is in essence “the crazy wedding”.
Given the theme, all stories have an ending that is satisfying enough. Those who like black comedies would want more although there are a few chuckles in there.
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