Juan Oliver is a decent man. Having just found a job as a prison guard, he wants to inspect the place where he is to begin working a day before he is to report for work. Juan and his pregnant wife, Elena, are expecting a baby, something both are looking forward to. As Juan is being shown an area of the jail, a loose piece of construction falls on his head. The two guards showing him around are startled as a riot sounding bell is rung. They cannot leave the injured fellow worker lying on the floor. Knowing cell number 211 is empty, they decide to take Juan there while they go for help.
That is the basic premise of this Spanish award winning film we recently watched on a DVD format. The story of an innocent bystander landing among hard core criminals is something no one has to experience. Juan, who has been given the basic training realizes he must act quickly if he is to survive. Throwing away his belongings that might incriminate him is a must, even down to minimal details as no shoe laces or his ring.
What follows is a prison drama where Juan gets caught, trying to pass as another inmate with mixed results. Malamadre, the leader of the prisoners is not at all convinced of Juan's story, but he sees in Juan a good ally who always makes sensible decisions as to how to act with their demands. Juan, in turn, sees what prisoners must endure in that close environment where men lose their dignity.
Directed by Daniel Monzon, the film offers relentless action as the rioters demand to be recognized, a long losing battle make the men confront the cruel authorities enforcing the prison rules. The screenplay was based on a novel by Francisco Perez Gandul, with a screen adaptation by Mr. Monzon and Jorge Guerricaechevarria. The action never decreases as it builds momentum to the unexpected climax when all hell breaks loose.
Luis Tosar gives one of his best performances as Malamadre. His criminal is a muscular man who has spent most of his life inside. Opposite him is Alberto Ammann, an Argentine actor who is a revelation to us, never having seen him acting before. They are supported by a good group of actors that lend credibility to the story.
This is not a film for the fainthearted viewers. The violent nature of the rioting that takes place is sometimes too much to watch.
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