The Violin (2007)

Of course, there's Tavira, who, even if he never appears in another film, has left an indelible mark on cinema with his work here.

The weathered Tavina, who lost his hand in an accident at the age of 13, makes a fittingly indomitable hero. He's a character you're likely to remember - his face alone is worth a thousand words.

Shot in luminous, high-contrast black and white, it has the rugged if faintly self-important authority of a Hemingway short story.

A terrific debut by Vargas, who wrote, directed and produced.

Another sort of movie would find a feelgood way of resolving the story; Vargas's vision is more grim and more realistic, but it is persuasively real, and in Tavira the director has found a natural star of the screen.

A quietly gripping adversarial duel lies at the heart of this political thriller, which has been hailed as a masterpiece in Vargas's native Mexico.

The film’s strongest asset is octogenarian newcomer Tavira, who exudes stoic dignity.

A challenging yet rewarding watch.