Murder in the Central Committee (1982)

Murder in the Central Committee Poster
Original Title: Asesinato en el Comité Central

The plot follows a private detective, an ex communist and former CIA agent, who travels from Barcelona to Madrid to discover the identity of the assassin of the leader of the Spanish Communist party who was stabbed during a blackout while presiding over a meeting of the party's central committee. The film is a thriller with ironic political overtones.

Film Overview
"Murder in the Central Committee" is a Spanish movie launched in 1982. The mystery-thriller film was directed by Vicente Aranda, based on an unique by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. A political murder mystery, the movie underlines the environment of tension and distrust widespread in the tail end of the Spanish shift duration from a dictatorship to a democracy.

Plotline
The plot revolves around the murder of Fernando Garrido, a high-ranking authorities of the Spanish Communist Party, throughout a committee conference of the celebration, restricted at a secret place. His murder produces an uproar in the political landscape, challenging the volatile democratic shift the nation is going through.

The party members find the lifeless body of Garrido inside a locked room prompting a chaotic craze. The strange circumstances around the murder lead to Pepe Carvalho, an ex-CIA representative turned private investigator, being worked with to examine the murder and to determine the killer.

Characters & Intrigue
Pepe Carvalho, main to the plot, is played by Patxi Andión. Pepe is an appealing character, advanced, and exceptional at checking out individuals. His character is not just restricted to the main investigation, however likewise showcases his abilities as a chef, showing a lighter and captivating side of his character.

With the beginning of the investigation, Pepe experiences multiple suspects covering various ideologies and factions within the party, making the plot significantly intricate. The celebration fears an internal traitor and is desperate to prevent any scandal that might interrupt the fragile political balance within Spain throughout the democratization procedure.

Political Climate & Conclusion
The film remarkably represents the unsteady yet transitioning duration in Spanish history, where democracy was gradually taking over the repressive shadow of dictatorship. The undercurrents of political tensions, the scrambling in between various ideologies, betrayals, and politically determined murders produce a gripping thriller.

Pepe dives into the maze of hints, lies, and half-truths, revealing a confounding mix of personal vendettas, illegal affairs, and political treachery. The character-driven plot maintains the suspense till almost completion. The investigation's climax unfolds a startling revelation, developing the murder motive to be a personal problem, camouflaged under the mask of political conspiracy.

Crucial Evaluation
"Murder in the Central Committee" is an intriguing political thriller set versus the backdrop of an important stage of Spanish history. The movie successfully forecasts the secrecy, stress, and paranoia, prevalent in the laden political times of Spain's shift to democracy, with a murder functioning as the secret to discover the hidden realities.

It paints a brilliant portrayal of a society on the brim of political and social turmoil. Yet, it maintains a balance through engaging elements of humor and wit, primarily viewed through the detective's eyes. The movie is greatly applauded for its smooth mixing of detective genre with political and historic contexts.

Overall, "Murder in the Central Committee" communicates a message of human frailty, cunning, duplicity, and enthusiasm that contrive to create a remarkable exposition of a turning point in Spain's history.

Top Cast

  • Patxi Andión (small)
    Patxi Andión
    Pepe Carvalho
  • Victoria Abril (small)
    Victoria Abril
    Carmela
  • Conrado San Martín (small)
    Conrado San Martín
    Santos
  • Héctor Alterio (small)
    Héctor Alterio
    Sepúlveda
  • José Vivó (small)
    José Vivó
    Fonseca
  • Carlos Plaza
    Pérez Montesa
  • Miguel Rellán (small)
    Miguel Rellán
    Leveder
  • José Cerro
    Esparza Julvé
  • Francisco Vidal (small)
    Francisco Vidal
    Cerdán
  • Juan Jesús Valverde (small)
    Juan Jesús Valverde
    Alcalde
  • Ramón Durán
    Mir