Carancho (2011)

Perhaps the fall-spring relationship doesn't quite work but Carrancho is an interesting character sketch of a horrid character. How far will he go to profit at his trade?

In "Carancho," Lujan(Martina Gusman) is a doctor practicing medicine in an ambulance. On one call, she helps out at an automobile accident. And it's an especially good thing she is there because Sosa(Ricardo Darin), a good samaritan, also needs medical care because he just had the snot beaten out of him. As her colleagues explain it to her, he is a 'vulture' who works on behalf of the Foundation as a way to scam the insurance industry in automobile accidents while the victims get a small percentage of any winnings and do not like to be interrupted in their moment of grief. Sosa also comes in handy in getting the patient admitted to the hospital, even without insurance, immediately endearing him to Lujan. With a plot that comes and goes as it pleases, "Carancho" is a compelling and violent character study of two immensely flawed people. Despite the generational differences, there is a mutual attraction between them and it helps that Sosa can cook. They also need each other since they are trapped in one truly messed up system. According to the film, nobody in Argentina can survive on an honest living. Lujan has to shoot up just to stay awake for the epic shifts that are required of her. Lacking insurance, people stage accidents to make a quick buck but that is increasingly dangerous as the statistics point out. And while Sosa is good at his job, he is still burdened by a conscience and sickened at what he sees, wanting out and his old legal license back. Since he refuses to give details, it is probably a smart guess that it was something really bad that got him disbarred.