Venice

Cobrador in God We Trust

 (Mexico - Brazil - Argentina - Spain -U.K.)

By LESLIE FELPERIN

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A Bertha Navarro presentation of a Salamandra Producciones, U. of Guadalajara, Imcine (Mexico), Giroloco, Morena Filmes (Brazil), Tequila Gang, El Deseo, TVE, Ibermedia, Fidecine, New Art Digital, (Spain), Arca Difusion (Argentina), Buena Onda (U.K.) production, in association with Fonds Sud, CNC. (International sales: Galba Prods., Madrid.) Produced by Bertha Navarro, Agustin Almodovar, Esther Garcia, Robert Bevan, Donald K. Ranvaud, Liliana Mazure. Directed, written by Paul Leduc, based on a short story by Rubem Fonseca.
 
With: Peter Fonda, Lazaro Ramos, Antonella Costa, Milton Goncalves, Dolores Heredia, Isela Vega, Malu Galli.
 

With its action spread all the way from New York to Buenos Aires, multi-character plot, and laudable if cartoonish anti-globalization theme, Latin-Euro co-production "Cobrador in God We Trust" makes a lot of sound and transmits fury, but ultimately doesn't signify all that much. In the hands of Mexican helmer Paul Leduc ("Dollar Mambo"), the pic has the spaced-out feel of one of those oblique mid-'70s movies by Nicolas Roeg or Michelangelo Antonioni, although that makes it sound better than it is. Peter Fonda's presence in cast could generate small sales to boutique distribs.

Fonda plays a millionaire who lives in Miami. For kicks, he runs over pedestrians, usually women, with his huge SUV. His adventures down to Latin America are counterpointed with those of El Cobrador (Lazaro Ramos), a former Brazilian mine worker who's somehow ended up in New York and goes on a senseless killing spree. While passing through Mexico, he hooks up with Ana (Antonella Costa), an Argentinean photojournalist, and the two turn into a contempo Bonnie and Clyde. Too little is explained, and the feeble ending makes none of it matter. Tech package is adequate.

Camera (color), Diego Rodriguez, Josep Maria Civit, Angel Goded; editor, Juan Carlos Macias; music, Tom Ze; production designers, Barbera Enriquez, Adriane Lemos, Margarita Jussid; costume designers, Lorenza Manrique, Mariana Polsi, Kika Lopez. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (Horizons), Sept. 6, 2006. English, Spanish, Portuguese dialogue. Running time: 92 MIN.