Cangrejo

This movie is about the notorious kidnapping of a teenager, son of a wealthy family in the oil rich Venezuela of the midseventies. The case was doomed because turned into a murder case when the boy dies during captivity. The crime has some peculiarities: Kidnappers who claim a relatively low ransom, apparrntly "are not profesionals" due to some mistakes and clues which help police to point out the investigation quickly. But soon its development downfalls into a puzzle of politics, social and media, menacing to cover the awful truth.

Director Roman Chalbaud does a good job, but his commitment on certain views on politics give a blurry panorama of a more complex story. There are not outstanding performances, but I found the starring role of Miguel Angel Landa (Leon) very commited and uptight to his central part as chief of investigation. The rest of the cast is efficient and do their job leaned on a good production which counted with the cooperation and involvement of the real Criminal Technical Police of Venezuela in those days (1982).

The book wrote by the Police Chief (Comisario) Fermin Marmol Leon of a real case (one of four) he investigate and technically but not legally resolved is the story of this interesting movie. The book of deputy Marmol Leon deal with four police cases that were unsolved because different powers in each case mediate in the investigation of the police, that's why that book has a second name: "Four crimes, four powers". The script goes very straight with the real facts and the actors made very good characters. Miguel Angel Landa a well known Venezuelan Movie and TV actor is quite good in the character of the Comisario Marmol Leon. Also all the other actors made a good job. Sound is also good for the time, remember this movie was released in 1982 and as much as I know there is only available in VHS. This movie was very success at that year and two years later in 1984 was released a second movie "Cangrejo II" with the second (police but not legally) unsolved crime. Also very success. I recommend both. My vote is 7 of ten. Wonder why the other two crimes never were filmed? Maybe some "powerfull forces" made some pressure against also?