Certain films, such as Hector Babenco's "El pasado" elicit a strong dislike by misguided users of this forum. Even more surprising, for a movie that had poor distribution and was seen by only a handful of viewers, is the amount of votes users of IMDb have sent. It appears a disgruntled person is pushing the negative response in the six comments, so far, for this picture. It's almost incredible that, in some cases more than 300 bad responses have been submitted for the first review that appears on this page, or that someone will go into such lengths to take such action. Abuse like this happens a lot with certain films when an individual, probably, takes it upon himself to make it appear the movie in question is even worse than what it is. That type of negativity should be watched by the panel in charge of IMDb.
"El pasado" is based on a lengthy book of more than five hundred pages by Alan Pauls, an Argentine author. The director, and his collaborator, Marta Goes, must have gone through a painful process in order to bring the novel to cinematic terms. That said, the film is a character study of a man that had it all and didn't realize what he had, to begin with, and wastes his life while searching for a balance that will make sense of what fate had in store for him.
When we first meet Rimini and Sofia, they appear a normal couple on their way to a party. Little prepares us to realize this pair will announce to an amazed gathering their intention of separating after twelve years of marriage. Rimini and Sofia have known each other since childhood. Their union, which would be solid, as far as one knows, is far from being the perfect marriage. This premise will take both Rimini and Sofia into uncharted territory, in spite of the fact that both former lovers still have a lot in common.
Since their split is amicable, Sofia even helps Rimini find an apartment, one would expect to have them see one another at times. Rimini falls in love with the beautiful young model Vera. Rimini appears to be happy, but his addiction to cocaine and the easy life in which he finds himself accompanying Vera, proves to be his own undoing. Vera, in a fit of jealousy, runs away from Rimini and is killed by a bus.
Rimini finds comfort with the beautiful Carmen, a translator, who obviously likes him. The life they share is a cozy one. Rimini suddenly begins suffering from a strange case where he loses his ability to translate from one language into another. Carmen, who has a difficult pregnancy, delivers a boy by Caesarean section. Lucio, the infant fulfills their lives until Sofia, who appears suddenly, takes the young boy with her, much to Rimini's surprise. Carmen, who blames him for this demands, and gets, a divorce.
What follows is a downward path where Rimini finds himself alone, unable to work and destitute, landing in jail at the height of his despair. Not all is lost for this man because Sofia, who still cares for him will reappear in his life and Rimini will accept his fate, at last.
Hector Babenco got excellent work out of his cast. Gabriel Garcia Bernal, one of the most interesting actors working today, makes a good Rimini with even a porteno accent. Analia Couceyro makes an appealing Sofia in a demanding role. Ana Celentano appears as Carmen and Mariana Anghileri is seen as Vera.
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