Displaying items by tag: Carman Machi

A WIDOW's GAME/ LA VIUDA NEGRA

Spain, 2025, 122 minutes, Colour.

Carmen Machi, Ivana Baquero, Tristan Ulloa, Pablo Molineror, Pepe Ocio, Alex Gadea, Joel Sanchez.

Directed by Carlos Sedes.

An interesting crime drama from Spain.

Initially, this film seemed like a Spanish variation on an episode of Vera, a focus on older middle-aged detective, with a daughter and problems with her treatment at school. She has a team working with her, again reminiscent of the collaboration of Vera and her team. There is a moment of sadness when one of them is killed in a car accident.

However, while the detective appears at the beginning and in the final sequences, the focus throughout most of the film is on the crime. A man is found murdered in a car park. There is suspicion on his wife, 10 years younger, ambitious, but with an alibi. And there is the background of his family, their concern about his death and their suspicions, especially by his brother who takes action. And there is the background of the wife, very religious, explicitly so, Catholic tradition, seen especially in the flashback to the wedding as well as the scene of the husband’s funeral.

The detective has difficulties with her boss and also with the magistrate/judge that she contacts in order to get warrants for phone tapping and surveillance. Ultimately, revelations about the case do rely on a great number of phone taps and surveillance, a gradual unmasking of the personality of the young wife, her social life especially going out with a friend, her starting an affair at a club before she was married, her husband made no allowances for her.

Gradually, further revelations about relationships, her hypocrisy and weeping so heavily on her husband’s coffin, the audience growing in dislike of her. Then it is further complicated by her work as a nurse at the hospital, one of her associates there, married with teenage son, becomes infatuated with her.

The last part of the film focuses on the planning for the murder, the carrying out of the killing, the effect on the various people participating, the setup for unmasking her, the arrest.

And final information at the credits indicates that this film was a reworking of an actual murder case.

1. The Spanish title and the tradition of Black Widows? The English title and Maje and her manipulations?
2. Based on an actual case, the situation, the murder, complicity, manipulation? The investigation, detectives, arrests?
3. Valencia, the atmosphere of the Spanish city, buildings, the streets, ocean views? Apartments, the church, police precincts, hospitals? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
4. The impact of the initial murder, the audience not seeing the body, the garage, the body discovered, the arrival of Eva and the police, the identification of the victim, his wife?
5. The focus on the police and their work, Eva and her age, character, difficulties with her daughter and the education system, the sequence at home with Eva weeping and her daughter consoling her? The other members of the team, Berni, his collaboration, older, his death in the accident? Turri, Eva relying on him, the other members of the team? Surveillance of the scene, the range of interrogations, Eva and her shrewdness, the clash with her superior, her continually going to the judge, his hesitations, bargains, and finally, the gift? Permissions, the tapping of the phones, reading the texts? Building up the evidence? The restaurant sequence, the microphone hidden with the serviettes? The range of characters, suspicions, following, the final focus on Slava, the interrogations of Maje, her manipulations? Final success?
6. The marriage situation, Maje and the engagement, her infidelity before the wedding, continued contact with Andres, Arturo forgiving her, his parents’ attitude, his brother’s attitude towards her, her own parents, their religiosity, the church wedding and declaration? Maje, her age, self-centred, continually out with her friend, dancing and dating, the encounter with Dani, the relationship, his love for her, not knowing she was married? Her work at the hospital? Anger with her husband? Wanting free of him?
7. The relationship with Salva, at the hospital, his age, wife and teenage son and the bond? His infatuation with her, the affair? Maje using him, lying about her husband, playing the victim, playing with his emotions, setting up the scene, the key, the explanations, persuading her husband where to park, the murder?
8. The consequences for Maje, pretending, the fake outpouring of grief with his coffin? The visits to his family, the criticism that she did not mourn her husband? The continued contact with Dani? Going to the clubs? The relationship with Salva, gradually alienating herself from him, lying, the plans with Dani? His continued infatuation, excusing Maje? Keeping his distance, the issue of the key, his lying for her?
9. The police focusing on her, the meetings, the recordings, getting enough evidence?
10. The interrogations of Maje, her lying, fears, older her, lying about Solo, condemning him, denying the relationship? Proof against her? Eva and the interrogation, breaking him down?
11. The final information about either, leaving the force? About the sentences for Maje and self? Based on an actual case?