Directed by Daniel Monzon
Juan Oliver (Alberto Ammann) is about to start work as a prison officer and, in order to show his enthusiasm, goes into work the day before to be taken on a guided tour of the prison. When two of the guards show him around and give him tips for dealing with the maximum security inmates, it is difficult to picture Juan as ever being tough enough to survive in his new job. As fate would have it, Juan is hit by falling debris from some building work and passes out.
The guards take him into cell 211, which is empty, to try and revive him but a riot breaks out and Juan’s colleagues run away, leaving him stranded. When he wakes up in the cell he takes stock of the situation and realises that if he wants to save his skin, he must pretend to be a prisoner.
Spanish director and co-writer Daniel Monzon talked with prison staff, prisoners and their families in order to accurately reflect life in a maximum security prison. He came to the conclusion that the closed realm of prison reflects the very same society that gave rise to it, albeit in a concentrated form. Monzon circumnavigates any stereotypes and portrays the duality of men who can kill and still be honourable. As tensions rise in the closed-down cell block, Juan forms an uneasy alliance with prison lifer Malamadre (Luis Toser) who leads the negotiations with outside authorities for better conditions.
This brilliant and engaging thriller does not judge any of the characters, but exposes their human frailties. It also confronts the audience with some of the contradictions and cruelties of the penal system on both sides of the legal divide. Cell 211 screens at UWA’s Somerville 14-20 March and at ECU’s Joondalup Pines 21-27 March.
Lezly Herbert
