Ashes of Paradise (1997) - full transcript

ASHES FROM PARADISE

A good start, Judge.

We have multiple wounds
with a knife.

Time? -The engine was on,
the trunk closed.

Too much heat.

From 7 to 11 hours

From 7 to 11 hours.

They came to notify
Judge Macantasis' suicide.

Nobody answered...

but the garage's door
was half open.

Excuse me Would you like
to talk to him now?



No.

Who lives in the house?

At least two
of the three brothers.

Pablo the young man
we saw downstairs...

and Alejandro,
his younger brother.

We still haven't been able
to locate him...

or the oldest one,
Nicolas Macantasis.

During the day...

there's a woman who does
the housework for them.

A certain Isabel Guemes.
-Alright.

You question the neighbors.
I'll talk to the employee.

Bring me what evidence
you can find at 11:00.

Were you able to identify
the victim?

I was saving that pearl
for last.



She was Ana Muro. Francisco
Muro's only daughter.

-Hi!
- Good morning!

With the city full of
garbage and 86 degrees F?

With the humidity index,
it's 96 degrees.

Good morning.
Chief Mendez called.

-Good morning.
Good morning, Your Honor.

The honor is mine...

Go out, please.

Well, I'm Judge Beatriz Teller.
I won't question you now...

and you needn't speak
if you don't wish to.

You have the right to name a lawyer.
I killed her.

Have a seat, please.

-I killed her.
-I heard you. Sit down, please.

lf you decide
not to choose one, I will...

I killed her on my own.

Would you like some water'?

Can we get this over with?
I killed her.

-Take my statement and I'll sign it.
Sign what?

How many times must I say it?
That I killed her!

On your own?

The victim was called...?

Ana.

She would have been 23
tomorrow. No...

Today.

You can write "22".

What did you do
with my father?

You know the procedure.

What about his murderers?

Can't we do this more quickly?

Can't we do this more quickly?

You are a lawyer. You know we can't.
I was.

Your brother next door
has just declared himself..

guilty of the' same murder.

Alejandro, he's crazy!
lf you let him talk...!

Alejandro! Nico,
what are you doing here?

What have you done?

Let go of him and leave,
please. Sit down.

We'll take the call.

Yes, Judge Teller.

Could you repeat that?

Thank you.

Alejandro Macantasis
is your other brother?

He's out of danger, but
he tried to commit suicide...

and, wrote a note saying he's
guilty of the same murder.

What kind of game
do you think you're playing?

I'm Judge Beatriz Teller.

Mr Muro, you can't identify
your daughter's body now.

Ana?

Ana?

You should have killed me, Ana

You should
have killed me, child.

Give me the lady's personal
data and I... Excuse me.

Judge, the Macantasis'
employee is waiting.

Let her wait.

Hypothesis 1:
the judge killed her.

They're covering up
for their father.

We need the time of death.

Judge Macantasis
died at 9:30 PM.

Then maybe he had time.

Hypothesis 2:
the three of them killed her.

Hypothesis 3: One of them
killed her...

but the other two
were involved in some way.

Without coordination?

Anything unpremeditated
is chaotic, Yety.

What does Muro mean by
"you should've killed me"?

Why does he feel responsible
for her death?

Let's pray Muro
has nothing to do with it.

The farther away from
money and power, the better.

One minute, five grand.

-You can send him a message.
-No.

I must talk to him.

Take your clothes off.
After your bath...

Now!

Slow down. Slow down!

Do you think you can
order me around, big shot?

I'm paying you 5 grand.

And I never forget a favor.

"Slug" Martini
is on the judge's case.

-Judge Martini.
He caught me just as...

Judge, could you
give me a minute?

Come in, Judge Martini.

I'm on Macantasis' case,
Judge.

Could we talk alone, please?

Of course we can.

Judge, I'm afraid we have a
little competence problem here.

Muro's and Macantasis' cases
are obviously connected...

and I think I should
handle them both.

I haven't found any evidence
they're connected.

-Have you? -No, not yet.

But there's something weird
in our colleague's death.

lt's obvious he killed himself
to avoid a scandal.

We should deal with this
with extreme caution.

Don't you think so?

I don't understand
a word you're saying.

Could we speak more frankly,
please?

We will, if it's necessary.

Thank you for your time,
Judge... Deller.

Teller.

He left squirming.

Calling him "slug"
is too generous.

Some say his late colleague
was into extortion.

-Victims? -If they know it,
they're not saying it.

Do we know anyone
in Macantasis' court?

We know some, not too much.

But we can get closer.

Am I corrupting you, Yety?

Sorry I'm late.

-Good morning, Mendez.
-Good morning.

I'm going to the trench.

-Let's see. -So we have
three confessions.

Nice case for Christmas!

According to the neighbors'
statements...

the three Macantasis
brothers...

could have been together
at the time of murder.

Pablo Macantasis.
25 years old. A lawyer.

Pablo Macantasis.
25 years old. A lawyer.

He has his own office.
No enemies.

Very angry. "The police,
like always, are mistaken."

Plays football on Thursday.

Assistant professor
of "Philosophy of Law".

He dated the two lawyers,
the notary, the secretary.

The guy used
to be unstoppable.

-What? -If they are so angry
with the police...

how did you make them
tell you about his affairs?

Nicolas Macantasis.

He's a cardiologist.

He works in a hospital
and two clinics.

They love him very much, too.

He couldn't have killed a fly.

He was unstoppable, too.

He had a girlfriend,
but went back to his parents'.

-He never had any money. -Why?

lt seems doctors
don't earn much.

Alejandro Macantasis.
23 years old.

A journalistic photographer.

The only brother who has
no reputation as a hot shot.

But curiously enough,
he was the victim's boyfriend.

-Sit down, Isabel. Nicolas...

-Sit down. -What happened?

You shut up. Shut up.

Don't push her, please!

-Why is she here7
-Ask your lawyer.

You have to take him back.

The same way?

lsabel, don't cry.

Don't cry.
They're doing it on purpose.

Don't cry. Go home. Don't cry!

ls that your style?

To prove you can drag me
around like a dog?

Calm down or this won't work.

With Isabel out there, crying?

She didn't kill anyone.

But of course...

that doesn't matter,
does it?

Not even who killed Ana
matters!

That's not your job.

Your Honor will use us
to cover up...

our dad's murder, right?

-Right? -You're here because
you confessed to a murder.

You've covered it up already?

He committed suicide?

Nico!

She didn't do it, Nico!

Why, then, you son of a bitch!

Why!

Why, you son of a bitch!

Why then! Why!

-He's missing, the secretary...
lriarte.

Since yesterday. Macantasis
had just been with the girl.

Ten minutes. She came out...

with the same folder
she went in with.

And Secretary Iriarte
came out with Macantasis.

Who was the girl?

Don't you know?

She was Ana Muro.

Mr. Alejandro Macantasis,
I'm Judge Beatriz Teller...

and I'm in charge of the case
of Ana Muro's death.

Murder. I did it.

We don't have
to talk about this now.

We don't have to talk at all
if you don't want to.

The doctors say
you're out of danger

Being dead
would be out of danger.

Did they give you my letter?

Yes.

Everything's there.

The seal isn't clear. I can't
do anything without the date.

-Good evening.
- Good evening.

Secretary.

What time did I ask to have
Nicolas Macantasis brought?

The warden didn't answer
the phone, as usual.

Yes, I told Patricia.
Didn't they bring him?

I needed the employee
to see him and understand...

it's a serious situation
before committing perjury.

Not shoving him around!
lt shouldn't happen again.

How did it go in the trenches?

With Macantasis' people...

you can't even mention
the word "extortion".

Total loyalty and devotion.

Guess who took charge
of that court...

and its loyal crew?

"Slug" Martini.

Yesterday Macantasis
left his office with Iriarte...

10 minutes before
he jumped from the terrace.

Secretary Iriarte
hasn't been seen since.

Who was the last person
the judge saw in his office?

Cut the suspense, Yety.

Our victim Ana Muro.

-Yes? -Excuse me, Judge.

-Yes?
- Excuse me, Judge.

Someone wants to see you.

I can't see anyone else today.

This woman Dolores Martinez...

she says she's a friend
of Ana Muro.

She would've never left.

Francisco adored her
and she adored him.

Until Ana left.

lt was my fault.

She left what because of you?

Her house. Her father's house.

Why did they kill her?

Francisco says...

But that's impossible.

Does he have an explanation
you're not telling us?

Yesterday...

Ana...

came to get some things.

Clothes, books.

And Francisco arrived...

and tried to stop her.

As Ana was leaving, he shouted:

"They want to use you
to destroy me."

They must have followed her.

They were always
following her.

Do you recognize the deceased?

Yes.

He's my father
Costa Macantasis.

On the left! That one
dressed up as a kid!

Three girls are after him.

Not after him,
after one of his cars!

There's the heir behind!

Such a great chick
with such a jerk!

Take the old guy there.

That one with a belly
over there.

-He's famous. All of them are.

We're socializing, remember?

lsn't that Muro?

That one's difficult to get.

Do your best. I'll find out
who the chick is.

- Who are you taking, kid?
- Don't touch the camera.

-Easy. Give me the film.
Don't touch the camera!

Are you a jerk or what?

Leave him alone, Toni.

Where did you get it?

The clock?
My mom gave it to me.

My dad gave it to me.

The same one?

I don't have any brothers
What about you?

I have two.

Younger?

Are you the youngest?

No, just the last one
to be born.

Looking for a brother7

You're more than
I could take in pictures.

Everybody's more.

Hardly anyone.

-Some water?
-I thought you were gone.

I'm not leaving. Never.

Ole!

Lift me.

Pablo knows something
that made Nicolas crazy.

What's the meaning of
"she didn't do it"

What do we know
about Ana Muro?

She's 22. Only child born
to Francisco Muro...

and Teresa Alvarez Corral,
alias "Tiqui". -Alias?

The police are incredible.

Tiqui Alvarez Corral
was a famous model.

Suddenly she disappeared.

When they divorced,
she was 4 years old.

She stayed with her father.

She Was studying Anthropology.

Everything normal.

lsn't it fantastic?

"They were three brothers
and she was a saint."

The tango says
"five brothers", Yeti.

Let's see. Ana had
an argument with her father...

and went to see the judge.

There's something between
the Muros and the Macantasis.

Muro said: "They'll use you
to destroy me."

There's something there, Yeti.

There's definitely something.

Why are they in jail?

Those kids didn't kill anyone!

That people who
threatened him on the phone...

they are the ones
who must have killed her.

Who threatened him?

-We never knew
-Who did they threaten?

The judge. He reported it
to the police.

Three times.

Why don't you look for them?

Why do you say the judge
committed suicide?

I can't answer that,
Mrs Guemes.

You don't want to.

Some answers I don't know.
Others, I can't give you.

How did you meet Ana Muro?

That first day.

After the first night
she stayed with Alejandro.

Did girls usually stay
the night with Alejandro...?

Never. No one ever stayed,
except her.

She never left.

Alejandro loved her so much
I was afraid.

One day I asked her
if she would get married.

lt was a silly question.

But she said yes.

She said: "I'm going to marry
all of you, forever."

All of you?

Judge Macantasis too?

How did the judge
get along with Ana Muro?

He wasn't always there.

Sometimes he'd stay
the whole weekend at home.

But he usually
stayed downtown.

What was their
relationship like?

What could it be like?
He was happy.

Happy?

Did he like Ana Muro a lot?

Happy for Alejandro.

Was Pablo happy for him?
What about Nicolas?

They're decent people.

A decent family.

There's a body. A body
with fifteen stab wounds.

The children didn't do it.

They say they did.

They say that?

Why?

That's the question,
Mrs Guemes.

-Why do they say they killed her?
That's a lie!

Why are they lying?

To protect their father?

What are you talking about?

Costa is dead and you want
to dirty his name.

Ana Muro is dead, too

Don't give me soap operas,
Mrs Guemes.

There are real corpses here.

The rest are all lies.

Hello?

Drop dead, you bastard!

Good morning, baby brother!
-Morning, second one.

I see you don't only live
on kisses.

You don't see anything.

Leave her alone
for once, jerk.

Still locked up in there,
little one?

Lovers?

Ana.

-Before Ana.
-There's no before.

-You can't lie on that stool.
-Don't ever think I lie.

I don't know how to lie.

Fears?

Cockroaches, rats, reptiles...

Ana. Real fears.

My dad was beside my bed
waiting for me to wake up.

He said Mom was leaving...

and that I had to choose
who to live with.

She was at the door with
those mirror glasses I hated.

She seemed to be in a hurry.

I hugged my dad...

to say goodbye to him,
I think.

And I saw her turn around
and go out.

I heard her until she closed
the front door.

And my dad told me:

"Alone at last, Ana."

You're looking for me.

A partner, for an interview.

No the appointment is with me.

I'm the photographer.
Alejandro Macantasis.

-My partner will be here in a minute.
He's left.

-Would you like a drink?
-Water, please.

Miss, please. Mineral water
and a cup of coffee.

lt's best taking the pictures
during the interview...

but you must be used
to this.

Do you like your job?

-Yes. Do you like yours?
-Some days.

Are you a pictures freak?
ls it your calling?

-Always taking pictures?
-No, I live, too.

How do you live?

I live well, thanks.
Look here, please.

That's alright. Enough.
Sit down.

- I have another interview.
- Tomorrow, maybe.

Today you have all the time
of the world just for me.

You could've told me
you just wanted to know me.

Everyone has their own style.

Yours is showing power
from the beginning.

Yours is showing power
from the beginning.

lf you don't use it,
you loose it.

Tell me, how did you
seduce my Ana?

She's not easy.

I didn't seduce your Ana.

Do you think it'll last?

Don't bet against it.

You forgot all about it,
you jerk!

Forgot? -Dad's birthday
We'll be down right away.

Right away, asshole?
He's been asking for you!

And your girlfriend,
of course.

Don't you want us to meet?
-Yes. You'll like him.

Pablo!

Poor Nicolas. It's not that
he does bad. He gets a girl...

but then Pablo comes
and takes her from him.

Not take them.
They come to me.

The ones I let go.

The thing is you are colder,
like Dad.

I envy that, you know.

But not so much.

You can imagine none
of that is true.

They've always been shy.

Come.

Let go of me!
Nicolas, help me here!

They hardly knew their mother.

-And they inherited my worst faults.
For instance?

For instance...

they ask everything
they want to know.

You can ask, Mr. Judge.

You're Francisco Muro's
daughter, aren't you?

Yes. Do you know him?

Not personally.
But who doesn't know him?

Almost no one.

The one in the magazines
isn't my father.

You've done miracles
with Alejandro.

-How's that?
-We love each other.

That's a good answer.

A complete answer.

Would you like some cake?
lt's delicious!

We really love each other.

I've no doubt about it.

Alejandro doesn't do
things halfway.

Ever.

Hey! You're grown-ups!

Pablo? Teach me Greek dancing.

No, it's not for women.

-Who said it wasn't?
-You did, Dad!

-They pretend to be primitive.
-So it was a lie.

No, Ana it's not for women.

What do women do in Greece
while men dance?

-They admire them. -Exactly.

That's Grandma's son!

You shouldn't have broken
that one, jerk!

I'm happy!

Time of death: Between 8 pm
and 9 pm, December 16th.

Fifteen injuries.
One mortal...

and 14 of different
angles and intensities.

Just one mortal injury.

lt would have been enough.

lt was the first one.

You don't remember
the number of stabs.

I stabbed her without counting.

You don't remember
what you did with the weapon.

No, but I remember very well
that I did kill her.

My clothes were analyzed.
lt was her blood.

You saw me there. What else
do you need, Your Honor?

Details. A motive.

Ask Muro.

Warden!

-Get me out of here, please!
-Son of a bitch!

Are we all crazy here?

- Tell me he cut me!
- Two inches, please!

Stop the bleeding! He's dying!

You take care of him!
lt's an emergency!

That son of a bitch
cut me deep!

-Who's in charge here?
-We're busy here!

Son of a bitch! -Don't talk!

Don't talk!
lt's bad for you. Please!

lt's my responsibility,
dammit!

Everybody out of here! Hurry!

Clear off, please!

- What happened?
- It hurts!

What's going on? -Here! Here!

You're a surgeon. bastard!

-Anesthetize him!
- Don't!

Calm down!
Nobody's going to do that!

Don't say anything, please.
Leave it to me.

Ale, it was my fault.

Where are you going?

lt was my fault, Ale.
She loved you, I swear.

- Come here!
- lt was you she loved, Ale!

Ale! It was you
she loved, Ale!

Ana loved you!

Hey! You re not a thief,
are you?

I'm stealing water.

My brother used to be
kinder to women.

He's sleeping.

Well, he used to be
more awake.

Do you want some water?

I thought you were gone.

I'll never leave.

Hello? Just a second.

lt's for you.

Hello?

Where did you get this number?

I wrote you I was alright.

I'm not your little girl,
Daddy.

The one who sleeps
with you is.

I have to go.
They're waiting for me. No!

Dolores, my best friend
she's studying in Paris.

She came home to spend
a month with me.

She slept two nights
in my room. Then in Dad's.

It's not a very
interesting story.

Well, it depends.
Does Alejandro know?

What does Alejandro
have to do with it?

Don't you think
this thing is a bit sick?

Clinically, falling in love
may be dangerous...

but fucking is great.

I'm serious! Besides
you should take care of it.

I don't live here.
-I put rubbers everywhere!

Don't put on that tie, Dad.
-Why not?

It's silk. I've had it for 20 years!
That's why.

lt's elegant and it's silk!

What happened
with your girlfriend?

Did she send you away again?

Something like that.

Oh, God... Whenever
will I be a grandpa?

Take your time.

Get dressed while Isabel
and I do all the work.

That kid has
such a temper! Wait!

Are you tying the knot, too?

There's your son's temper.

What about this girl?
She isn't a nutcase, is she?

No, not this one.

Do you think it normal
she staying here with you?

Normal? Don't you think
a 62-year-old boy...

could bring his girlfriend
to his birthday party...

and introduce her
to his children?

Don't you mess with me!

I'm your father, not your son!

What's her name?
She must have a surname.

-Muro.
- What?

-Ana Muro.
Francisco Muro's daughter?

-How should I know?
How? Anyone comes here...!

I don't know her father.
She doesn't like him much.

But she didn't come,
Alejandro brought her!

Well, I suppose
coincidences do exist.

At least he's happy, isn't he?

Repulsively happy.

Can I help you? -Sure.

Greek baptism!

Roman challenge!

A toast, but in peace.

You give up too quickly
or a Greek.

Alejandro!

What else can I do for you...?

I don't know what to call you.

I'm sorry. I've never
had to deal with a judge.

I'm not here officially.
Thank you for letting me in.

You're doing the right thing
with those criminals.

I'm glad
to be able to help you.

Did you know your daughter
was A. Macantasis' girlfriend?

She wasn't his girlfriend.

They took her hostage.

But how can you
tell your daughter...

that it's not true,
that it's not love...

that they're using you.

I tried to tell her.

But women...

I had everything.

Now I have nothing.

Thank you, Angela.

The three of them killed her,
didn't they?

I don't know yet.

lt seems unlikely.

Unlikely?

That those three Greeks
killed my Ana?

Four.

That corrupted judge
is as guilty as they are.

I meant it's unlikely
the three of them did it.

What do you mean?

That just one of them
stabbed her so many times?

The forensic doctor is certain
the first stab was mortal.

You say that
for me to believe...

that she didn't
suffer so much.

Thank you.

That's of no use to me.

Nobody dies as quickly
as you would like to believe.

Life, especially
when it's young...

resists.

lt resists.

He'll like the flowers.

You love him, don't you?

Will you marry Alejandro?

Alejandro, his father...

his brothers and you.

I'll marry the whole family,
lsabel.

Nico, Dad invites us
to go hunting next weekend.

What're you doing?

Where are you going?
Back with Florencia?

What for? It's no use.
Don't make her suffer.

lf I tell her,
she won't believe me.

She will believe you.

Don't be a jerk.

Stop packing you fool.

What do you care
if I go or stay?

What do you care
if I go or stay?

Do you miss me?
-Sometimes I do.

lt makes me sick to be alone
with those two freaks.

Are you leaving
because of that?

I know. I shouldn't have come.

Nobody's asking you to leave.

- Do you like hunting?
- No.

Certainly not.

I'm here to...

I'm here to see the place.

Has Alejandro arrived?

Nobody has.

They'll be coming with Dad.

Do you like riding?

I used to like horses
but one threw me once.

Come.

You get on and off a horse
on the same side.

-Did you leave because of me?
No.

When I die, I'm going
to be buried with Oscuro.

Why?

lt has to be that way.

There's something missing
without him.

We're joined
by what can't be tamed.

Horses are more impatient
than man.

They're more...

More passionate.

His heart beats so hard.

lt's always galloping.

No... No, I have to leave.

I can't be here.
I should leave.