TIFF'09: 25 Carat (Spain)

Shot on the streets of Barcelona, 25 Carat probes the ugly side of a city known the world over for its beauty. Using stripped-down hand-held camera work, the debut feature by Patxi Amezcua pushes deep into a harsh environment of thieves, hustlers and hitmen, combining action with strong, engaging characters to keep viewers at the edge of their seats.

Abel (Francesc Garrido) works as an “unofficial debt collector,” reminding people of the consequences of not paying their bills on time. He accidentally meets Kay (Aida Folch), a petty car thief, whom he helps when one of her schemes goes awry, and the chemistry between the two is palpable. Kay is fed up with her home life; the apartment she shares with her father, Sebas (Manuel Morón), is a disgusting mess, and he has a gambling problem that attracts dangerous people. Sebas is also constantly hatching dodgy strategies, hoping to have a big win one day. These schemes usually fall apart, but this time he's figured out a way to unload three hundred thousand euros from a crooked police officer, Garro (Joan Massotkleiner), and Kay asks Abel to help out with her end of the deal.

Sharing a mutual desire to leave behind the criminal world and find a better life for themselves and Abel's young son, Abel and Kay just need to come up with a plan to make things go their way. Of course, not everything goes as expected, and the two must try to find a way out of the maze in which they have become entangled, realizing there are no easy escapes.

As the film begins to move at a startling pace, a carefully knit script reminds us that this is not a world without hope. We understand the importance of redemption, and why Kay and Abel would risk everything for the chance at a new life.

Diana Sanchez

Patxi AmezcuaPatxi Amezcua was born in Pamplona, Spain, and lives in Madrid. In addition to writing and directing the short film Mus (03), he penned the screenplay for the thriller Arian's Journey (00). He makes his feature debut with 25 Carat (09), which won awards for best film, best actor and best actress at the Malaga Film Festival.