New to Netflix from today is the Argentinian thriller, Rest in Peace (aka Descansar en paz). The movie – directed by Sebastián Borensztein – stars Joaquín Furriel, Griselda Siciliani and Gabriel Goity, and follows the story of a husband and father who finds himself in a desperate situation when his finances take a turn for the worst.
In the movie, the year is 1994 and in Buenos Aires, Sergio Dayán is celebrating his daughter’s bat mitzvah when he suddenly faints after seeing an unwelcome guest at the party. Later that night, Sergio’s wife questions him about the incident and he admits he is under pressure.
Sergio doesn’t reveal the full extent of his problems but his company is not doing well, his finances are in a mess, and he is in significant debt. Sergio also owes money to a lender called Hugo Brenner, who is now sending his goons to collect, and this is what caused Sergio to faint at the party.
After attempting to request further assistance from Brenner, Sergio is told he has a week to pay back all the money. To encourage a quick payment, Brenner makes it clear he has Sergio’s family under constant observation and he will act against them if necessary.
Getting desperate, Sergio makes his way to Brenner’s office to plead with him once more, but on his way to the building a tragedy takes place when a bomb goes off. However, while this tragedy impacts the whole city, and becomes a dark day for Bueno Aires, it may provide Sergio with an escape route from his debt.
Initially set during the events of the AMIA bombing, which took place on the 18th of July 1994, before skipping forward in time, Rest in Peace is a drama-thriller about a man who uses a tragedy to his advantage. In the movie, Sergio is in a desperate situation, from which he sees no escape, but when he is caught up in a bomb blast and presumed dead, he sees this as an opportunity to slip away.
Not only will his disappearance mean Brenner can no longer threaten him, it also means his family will benefit from his death. A life insurance payment will cover his debts, his children’s education costs will be met, and his family can move forward in their lives.
By removing himself from the equation, the benefits are high. However, by choosing this act of deception and fraud, Sergio loses his nearest and dearest so there is still a considerable price to pay.
This is something which is later explored in the movie as Sergio comes to regret his choices. He finds himself becoming increasingly curious about his family, and begins to check up on them.
However, this is where the film drops the ball. Instead of becoming the main focus of the picture, with Sergio potentially coming into contact with his family, this element of the story is never fully developed and feels like a bit of an afterthought which is tacked on at the end.
As a result, Rest in Peace starts off well and is fine in places, but it’s not quite the film it could or should be. While the premise is intriguing and certain elements work fine, it never quite comes together in the right way and this creates a movie which ultimately fizzles out to nothing.
The idea of Sergio slipping away from his old life to go on the run is interesting, and there is plenty of potential in what follows next, but the movie fails to capitalise on Sergio’s time away, or his feelings over his lost family. It dips in here and there, and delves into Sergio’s psyche in a greater way during the final act, but it all feels a little too late.
If Sergio’s desire to reconnect with his family was a bigger focus midway through the film, then Rest in Peace could be a more thrilling picture, with more drama, more danger, and a great deal more emotion. But because he doesn’t try to see them until the last part of the movie, it leaves the film feeling rushed and underdeveloped.
There is a resolution of sorts, but again, it’s all very abrupt and half-cooked. What starts off quite promising ultimately goes nowhere and this feels like a waste of everyone’s talents.
Rest in Peace is fine at times, but it’s nothing special and what it brings to the screen could be better. The cast are good, the film has its moments, and when the bomb takes place it hooks in its audience, but then it slowly loses that same audience when it struggles to do anything of note.
There could be a great film in here, but that’s not what this is. Rest in Peace is a middle-of-the-road affair and not much more.
—
—
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment