Review by Zach Dennis
Tired of working? What if we do something else — what if we don’t work???
The Delinquents, the latest film from Rodrigo Moreno, poses the earth-shattering question infused with 70s cinema and a good heist thriller. Moran and Roman both work at a bank in Buenos Aires making their daily paycheck. This day, Moran sees an opportunity — Roman is leaving them a bit understaffed as he heads to have a neck brace removed — which means Moran will be the only employee attending to the vault.
As he makes his way out for the day, Moran leaves with nearly $700,000 in his backpack. This isn’t Ocean’s Eleven or Heat, he’s noticed by the camera (which is unattended) and is able to walk out with no one the wiser until the next week.
After pulling off the heist, he contacts Roman with a proposal: he’s going to turn himself in and serve three and a half years or less in prison for the crime. What’s Roman’s role? Hold the money until he gets out. When he does, the amount will make up both of the rest of their salaries for 25 years until their retirement.
While the three hour runtime may turn some off, The Delinquents paces itself well. The first part is more heist thriller: the fallout of the robbery, the beginning of Moran’s time in prison and Roman attempting to reckon with the deal he just made as eyes begin to land on him. The second part is much more relaxed. Tired of holding the money at home, Moran gives Roman a spot in the wilderness to visit and store the money; on the way home, Roman meets three people, spending the day eating, drinking and swimming with them in the beautiful Argentinian countryside.
The day changes him and sets him on a new path, one that he’ll find intersects with his incarcerated partner.
Moreno keeps the whole thing snappy though. It holds your attention, is frequently funny and has a sly, but smart, commentary on a city dweller’s desire to “live in nature.” Their perspective varies from Norma, one of the women Roman meets, who becomes his lover for a time. She’s free, constantly making choices in the present, and beauty, coupled with access to fresh food, open days and romantic evenings, seem intoxicating.
It also provides a false goal for the men. Would they really make it in nature? Would they really be content? Despite the on a whim decision to rob the bank, both Moran and Roman share drives and ambitions. The present mindset of the country appeals to them in their small doses, but may not seem tenable for a long future.
We never find out whether or not they come to that impasse, but along the way The Delinquents keeps us engaged. It’s hard not to get whisked away in the nature fantasy as the two men do, and that relinquishing to the present makes the movie’s ride even the more pleasurable.