The Salt in the Wound (El dedo en la llaga)

Director: Alberto Lecchi
Screenwriters: Alberto Lecchi, Daniel Romanach

Institute History

  • 1997 Sundance Film Festival

Description

The Salt in the Wound is the story of two Spanish actors, Eduardo and Angel, who are unsuccessfully seeking their fortune in Argentina. After failing in Buenos Aires, they decide to take their hapless, politically charged stage play on tour. Their banged-up old car has other ideas, though, and breaks down, forcing them to spend the night in the town of Zapallares. The pragmatic Angel makes a deal with the corrupt town councillor: a performance of their play in exchange for repairs.

The performance turns into a great scandal, and Eduardo and Angel end up in jail. Enter Tolosa (played with characteristic cool by Dario Grandinetti), a high school teacher whose students want to stage the play again to raise funds for their graduation trip. Actors, teacher, and students, as well as some locals, concoct an ingenious plan that pits the townsfolk against the political establishment. Ultimately, The Salt in the Wound is a film about two generations uniting to achieve a common objective. Lecchi extracts good performances from the actors, many of them amateurs from the town, and the film’s sense of familiarity is contagious and engaging.

— Ramiro Puerta, Toronto Film Festival

Screening Details

Credits

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