The Delinquents (2024)

Rodrigo Moreno's slow burning heist drama thriller (of sorts) is one of the most intriguing films of this year. Some may find its languorous pacing too much to bear, but those individuals will miss out on its many riches, not least it's beautifully strange atmosphere and its straight faced black comedy.

The Delinquents has two central protagonists; Morán (Daniel Elías) who works in a Buenos Aires bank, and Román (Esteban Bigliardi) one of Morán 's colleagues- and the one who he clearly trusts the most. Morán has concocted the ultimate long-game heist- one day he stuffs over half a million dollars into a bag taken from the bank's vaults, and simply walks out. He's in full view of the cameras, and is fully aware that he's going to be caught. It's all part of the plan.

Later that evening he meets Román for a beer and explains the plan- Román is to take the money, stash it, and keep his mouth shut while Morán admits to his crime and serves what he perceives will be three and a half years in jail. Once he's out, him and Román can split the money- Morán's thinking is that three and a half years for a life changing sum of money is much more palatable than facing another twenty years in the bank, destroying the best years of his life.

The set up is hilarious and engaging, but The Delinquents is far from your average heist film; Ocean's Eleven this is not. Morán is placing a lot of faith in Román, but at the same time knows that as soon as he's revealed his plan to Román, Román is then implicated, and he essentially has him over a barrel. When we first meet Román, he's in a neck brace, already invoking a sense of inward weakness. This is compounded with his evident struggles to find common ground in his failing marriage, only hampered further by the appearance of Morán and his sack of stolen cash.

But The Delinquents is as much about finding freedom as it is about a claustrophobic living; whether that be in a prison like Morán or trapped in a plodding marriage like Román. The beauty, when it comes, is stark; initially we see Román's, after he decides he can't keep the stolen cash in his house, he has to move it elsewhere. When he tells Morán this, Morán gives him an extremely specific place in the rural wilderness where he should hide it. Why Morán has specifically chose this place becomes clear later on, but on Román's journey to this place, he meets some people who will alter both his perception of life and as well as almost inexplicably interlinking him still further with Morán.

Perhaps though, inexplicably is the wrong word. There is an edge of magical realism to all this; coincidences that seem deliberately a stretch, and yet Moreno's film never has you questioning any of it such are the painstaking musings on life itself and the systems we potentially have to contend with. Crime isn't the answer, but The Delinquents certainly has you questioning at times whether modern life forces your hand in achieving some kind of happiness.

Thankfully though, Moreno insists you look inwards to tackle your own unhappiness. Morán may want to blame others, blame the system, blame the powers that be for his miserable existence- but while he does so, he shows no gratitude whatsoever for what he does have. As The Delinquents carries you along for its near three hour running time, ultimately it provides you with the answer: the only person who can control your happiness, is you. 8.1/10