Blanca, an 18-year-old foster home resident, is the key witness in a scandal involving kids, politicians and rich men taking part in sex parties. Yet, the more questions are asked, the less clear it becomes what Blanca’s role in the scandal exactly is.
Blanquita is based on a year- long investigation of the ‘Spiniak Case’, a network of child prostitution and pedophilia led by a powerful Chilean businessman. It was one of the most turbulent and confusing for the Chilean judicial, political and journalistic history of the last fifteen years.
Director Fernando Guzzini‘s drama thriller doesn’t shy away from gnarly details that mirror the real life case this story is based on. He asks the audience a very important question revolving the ethics and transparency in a case like this. Often we see highly prolific abusers get away with the allegations that were raised against them, but in this film a highly dangerous cat-and-mouse game puts our main character in danger, while also trying to deal with personal demons that threaten to derail this entire case.
Guzzini’s film isn’t a homerun, but carries all the elements to be one. The entire first half is confusing but intriguing, as we jump back and forth in time, not knowing what is happening when, and where the story is going exactly. The problems I personally had with the film mostly take place in the third act, where it gets a bit too melodramatic when Blanca’s true intentions question the viewer’s interpretations of the truth. Her battle for revenge becomes an unfortunately narcissistic quest for answers, because the system failed her multiple times. It’s something we’ve seen done before and, in my opinion, better.
The direction, acting, score and cinematography are definitely the film’s strongest suit, where the editing could’ve been tighter to streamline the story into something “easier to digest”. Overall, Blanquita is definitely a film I’d recommend, because of its stronger elements and important message that reflects on today’s society in any class or country on this planet.
Reviewed online (screener provided by publicist), September 3, 2022. Running time: 94 min.
PRODUCTION: A Quijote Films, Varios Lobos, Tarantula, Bonne Pioche Cinema & Madants production. Producers: Giancarlo Nasi, Pablo Zimbrón, Donato Rotunno, Pascal Guerrin, Yves Darondeau, Emmanuel Priou & Beata Rzeźniczek.
CREW: Director/writer: Fernando Guzzoni. Cinematography: Benjamín Echazarreta. Editing: Jarosław Kamiński, Soledad Salfate. Music: Chloé Thevenin.
CAST: Laura López, Alejandro Goic, Amparo Noguera, Marcelo Alonso, Daniela Ramírez & Ariel Grandón.