Heroic Losers (2019)
La odisea de los giles
Film details
Comedy · Thriller · Sebastián Borensztein · 1h 58min
Synopsis
In a town in the Northwest of the province of Buenos Aires, a group of neighbors is organized to recover the economy of the area, but when the corralito is implemented in the country and they suffer a fraud, their hopes disappear. Now, they will unite to recover the lost money and give the blow of their lives to their greatest enemy.
Verdict
Argentine heist that celebrates community solidarity and neighborhood justice.
In-depth analysis
Set against the backdrop of the 2001 Argentine crisis, the film constructs a classic heist upon the ruins of institutional trust. The screenplay leverages the real historical context to lend moral weight to the protagonists' vengeance: they are not criminals, but victims of a corrupt system who decide to reclaim what is theirs with ingenuity. The film celebrates robust virtues — loyalty among neighbors, solidarity in adversity, creativity in the face of injustice — without succumbing to cynicism or the gratuitous glorification of crime. The tone is nimble, with dry Argentine humor and a cast that sustains the emotional credibility of the plan. For parents, the dilemma lies in vigilantism: the work presents it as a legitimate response when institutions fail, which opens a valuable dialogue about justice, authority, and personal responsibility. The violence is moderate (tension, chases, an occasional skirmish), the language is colloquial with occasional expletives characteristic of the Argentine urban register. Appropriate for adolescents with guidance that leverages the opportunity to discuss the difference between justice and vengeance.