Riposare in pace

Descansar en Paz (directed by Sebastián Borensztein) is a slow-burn mystery melodrama that keeps you intrigued in its first half, but unfortunately loses its emotional impact as the story progresses.

The film follows Sergio Dayan (played by Joaquín Furriel), a businessman on the brink of collapse. His inherited factory is in financial ruin, leaving him unable to pay his bills or employees. With mounting pressure from a dangerous loan shark demanding immediate repayment, Sergio's life is spiraling out of control.

Things take a sharp turn when, while buying a necklace for his beloved daughter, Sergio is caught in the aftermath of a deadly bombing at the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) - a hate crime that shakes the nation. In a desperate bid to escape his creditors and start fresh, Sergio fakes his death and flees to Paraguay, adopting a new identity. There, he secures a job at an import-export company, leaving his family behind but ensuring their financial stability through a life insurance policy.

While the setup is strong, with suspense building steadily in the first half, the film falters in its latter half. The emotional stakes diminish as the narrative unfolds, and by the time the conclusion arrives, it feels anticlimactic and even incoherent. What could have been a poignant exploration of guilt, survival, and the human condition ends in a forced and ridiculous final twist.

Ultimately, Descansar en Paz presents a promising beginning but stumbles when it comes to delivering a satisfying, emotionally resonant conclusion. It's a film that begins with tension but ends with a whimper.