Piñero’s Plata Quemada film adaptation.

Piñero’s film adaptation of he novel Plata Quemada as previously stated in my last post is loyal to historic events. Plata Quemada originally is a fiction novel that borrows from real events. At points the novel strays and follows the path of a fiction novel by creating a world that resembles our own. Something that fascinates me from both movie and novel but mostly the movie is the fact that it follows to cold-blooded killers through their journey. A physical journey to escape the authorities and it is during the escape the characters embark on another journey that is guided by their emotions and in the end it is a journey to find themselves. What is truly amazing is that these insane characters where real at one point. Taking into account that the movie follows history closer than the novel it is safe to say this couple of lunatics really did run from the cops in an epic standoff.

What is not believable is the romance between the two protagonists. This is where the movie just sites the novel. The romance is not the driving plot in the actually work of literature, however in the movie the romance plays a large role in the narration of the story or it is the one plot that is reoccurring. This is neither good or bad, it’s a stylistic choice and approach on the director’s behalf. Though it does not change much of the story it finds a balance of some sort between action and romance. At points in the movie all you get is this romantic story that shadows every other aspect of the plot. It gets to the point where the escape from the cops and living hidden away from society seems like something every couple gay or straight should do. We don’t get the feeling that these men are running for their lives instead we get the feeling that these two men really love each other and have to struggle with whatever problems they have in their relationship, whether it be that Nene is confused or that Angel wont have sex.

The choices made in the movie for good or worse they work, the faithfulness to history works also and the focus on the romance helps the story become a movie that anyone can understand. Can we do without the romance? Perhaps, the film would be just like the novel. One thing you cannot do away with is the tension between the various characters, whether sexual or not there is tension between all the characters that propel the drama that make for such a story. I wont run off anytime soon and read every historical text searching for the real Nene and Angel so to that extent I have to take the novels word that it is faithful to the real standoff in turn I would have to believe that the movie is in fact historically accurate.

Plata Quemada (novel)

Plata Quemada by Ricardo Piglia is a novel that claims to be based on historical events, this is probably true but there will always be room for questions when a novel claims to be “ based on historical events”. Regardless of the novels claim of truth we cannot help but question how much these “true events” shaped the novels plot and characters. There is a good chance that the novels depiction of the Twins is in fact historical. After all the legendary criminal duos that to this day we still speak about where real people who did commit such acts of violence we cannot help but find their lack of mercy to be a topic of discussion and even glorification.

The novel Plata Quemada is based on a famous standoff between cops and a very small band of criminals who had stolen a sum of money that would make today’s business owners scuff at the idea of getting an force so large for only three individuals and money that is only good to burn. The dates in the novel however are not as accurate as the actual stand off; this is no big deal as the novel is based on these events instead of being an exact retelling of history. For once the novel that inspires the movie, takes greater liberties as far as its historical claims go and this is were the inaccuracy does neither justice not fault to the literature. As it stands now the movie may have historically accurate when the novel is not. Even so this particular film adaptation is one that captured the novels mood down to a T.

There is no need to get stuck on historical facts, and what is accurate and what is not. After all we do not watch a movie to be lectured or to relive history unless that is the directors intention, we watch a movie to see something else that is neither lecture nor a historical documentary. Plata Quemada is a work of fiction that was inspired by real life events. The two main characters, a couple that just so happen to be criminal’s so its not just a couple of criminals, also known as “The Twins” are engaged in a homosexual love affair, do not get caught up on this aspect of the novel as it is not the main drive or theme of it. The depiction of their love is an interesting one as it is not a perfect relationship; it is filled with odd and awkward bumps in a road that is not usually trekked by “love”. These two lovers are not your everyday bandidos, they are in fact gay but not how the mainstream portrayal of homosexuals goes, they are aggressive, bloodthirsty and murderous. What the novel does expertly is give roles of power to men who are not always the bacon of masculinity or notoriety. Of course there are social stigmas in relations to gay couples that come across and through the novel. However it does empowers a negative stereotype in regards to homosexuals, even so this cannot be helped as the novel makes this couple of criminals a dominant light over the rest of the world regardless of their sexual orientation. It is no love story, Plata Quemada is a strong piece of social commentary. The act of burning money is a slightly controversial action even in a novel seen it as society worships money above many other things family included. The commentary we are exposed to is both explicit and filled with blurbs aimed at society.

Plata Quemada is a grounded novel and not over the top or fantastic, a bit theatrical but not in an overwhelming way. Because it does stay in the fictional realm something’s may feel fantastic when in reality they are not. No matter how fictional the novel may be it will have some hints of reality to it even if just as reference. The rest is an exaggeration of the truth. The liberties taken are not a big deal as I said before. If anything it gives it nudge and allows for a unique story. It does not feel like the focus of the novel to retell history, but it is its goal to let an audience see into the lives of a Bonnie and Clyde like duo and how the two deal with the problems in their life. The way the story unfolds is a bit predictable but its not a big problem either, its not as it can be helped. It does not take huge turns and go throw great obstacles to let you know that Nene is heading for destruction and bringing Angels somewhat child like mind along for the ride. And in a sense it does not need to do any of this to create tension, the tension of the novel is already there.