Life in the Abyss (2007)
This film evokes Valencia illegal gaming back in the seventies. A young peasant -Ferran- plays cards not much to make a living but as a distraction of his daily routine. Ferran meets a larger-than-life character -el chino- who happens to play cards for a living. This other guy is depicted as a Toni Manero look alike but his charisma an arrogance lead the innocent Ferran to join him in his schemes to make money to end up betting all on the next card table. At some point the action moves to Madrid and Ferran steps down losing track of El chino who takes on more dangerous games making a living out of Russian Roulette until the round gets loaded. Based on real events this is no Hollywood epic but it captures the desperation of the characters very effectively.
Director:
Ventura Pons
Writer:
Ventura Pons
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Óscar Jaenada as El Chino |
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José Sospedra as Ferrán joven |
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Antonio Valero as Ferrán adulto |
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Juli Mira as Salvador |
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Pep Cortés as Labrador |
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Albert Forner as Sacerdote |
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Nausicaa Bonnín as Rosa |
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Pepa López as La madre |
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Abdelatif Hwidar as Juanito el Moro |
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Pep Ricart as |
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Daniel Medrán as |
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Karme Málaga as Catherine |
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Ximo Solano as Tan |
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Álvaro Báguena as Padre |
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Isabel Rocatti as Hermana |
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Alfred Picó as |
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Miguel Such as |
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Paco Sarro as |
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Francesc Queral as |
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Domènec de Guzmán as |
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Juanjo Cascales as |
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Dámaso Rabanal as |
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Jordi Gràcia as |
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Maria Sola as |
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Elisabet Agulló as |
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Nacho Moliné as |
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Rai Borrell as |
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Jordi Miñarro as |
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Miguel Ángel González as |
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Piero Verzello as Joven con el sacerdote |
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Cristina Plazas as Prostituta |
| Writing | Ventura Pons | Screenplay |
| Directing | Ventura Pons | Director |
| Writing | Ferran Torrent | Novel |
| Sound | Carles Cases | Music |