Latin Heat Online

Latin Heat Online
Posted on 06-30-2005

Palm Picture’s Cronicas Explores The Power of the Tabloids

New York, NY -- John Leguizamo stars in Palm Picture’s Cronicas, an outstanding independent film in Spanish with English subtitles that explores the powers of tabloid media. Cronicas premieres in Los Angeles and New York on July 8th in a limited release.
Cronicas was the official Oscar selection from Ecuador in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Produced by acclaimed filmmakers Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban) and Guillermo del Toro (Hell Boy, Mimic, Cronicas is the gripping new crime drama from sophomore writer/director Sebastian Cordero (Ratas, Ratones, Rateros.
Leguizamo (Golden Globe nominee for Best Supporting Actor in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar) plays Manolo Bonilla, a reporter for the tabloid TV show An Hour with the Truth who travels to Ecuador with his Miami news crew to cover the story of a serial killer who haunts the village of Babahoyo.
When Vinicio Cepeda (Damian Alcazar), a poor traveling salesman, accidentally kills a child in a car accident, an angry mob led by the child’s father attempts to lynch Vinicio in the streets of Babahoyo. Manolo and his crew happen to be present during the incident and keep the camera rolling for every harrowing minute of the event.
Following up on Vinicio in prison, Manolo soon suspects that the serial killer he dubbed “The Monster of Babahoyo” is in fact Vinicio. Realizing that he may have the story of a lifetime at his fingertips, Manolo tries to get Vinicio to confess on camera. In the end, Manolo leaves Ecuador a hero to the public, but in reality, a guilt-ridden accessory to the deaths of untold numbers of children.
Cronicas is the work of director Sebastian Cordero, who also directed Ratas, Ratones, Rateros. He conceived the idea for Cronicas after reading about the infamous Columbian serial killer Luis Alfredo Garavito who was arrested in 1999.
One of the ironies of the story is the unsettling character of Vinicio who, despite the atrocities he commits during his travels as a bible salesman, is known as a good man, loving father and caring pillar of the community. Manolo’s pursuit of the lifetime story and his station manager’s greed for ratings bring a twisted version of reality to the public that leaves the viewers cheering while in truth, it has opened the doors to more violence and death.
The remaining cast of Cronicas, Leonor Watling, Jose Maria Yazpik, Gloria Leiton, Luiggi Pulla, Henry Layana and Tamara Navas also deliver outstanding performance.
Cronicas’ won the Official Selection at Sundance (2005), and has also screened at Cannes (2004), Toronto International Film Festival (2004) and San Sebastian International Film Festival 2004.