Assassination Tango

Assassination Tango

Year: 2003

Runtime: 114 min

Language: English

DramaThrillerRomanceCrime

A seasoned assassin, Robert Duvall, travels to Argentina with a dangerous mission: to eliminate a high-ranking official. While waiting for his target, he becomes captivated by the passionate world of tango and falls for its alluring practitioner, Luciana Pedraza. As their connection deepens through sensual dance, the reality of his assignment intrudes, threatening to shatter the intoxicating spell that has enveloped him.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Assassination Tango (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Assassination Tango (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The movie unfolds in contemporary times, a period characterized by complex moral dilemmas and the struggle between personal desires and professional obligations. The unfolding events reflect the modern-day implications of living a double life, where identities can collide dramatically.

Location

New York City, Buenos Aires, Argentina

New York City serves as the starting point for John's tumultuous journey, where he juggles his criminal life with personal relationships. In contrast, Buenos Aires provides a vibrant backdrop, famous for its rich culture and passionate tango scene, which captivates John and leads him to a transformative experience.

🌍 Locations 🎶 Dance

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:41

Main Characters – Assassination Tango (2003)

Meet the key characters of Assassination Tango (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John J. (Robert Duvall)

John J. is a seasoned hitman facing the twilight of his career, reflecting on his life choices amid the chaos of his profession. Consumed by a world of violence, he also holds a tender side, revealing his desires for connection and redemption through dancing and relationships.

🎭 Complexity 🔫 Hitman ❤️ Lover

Manuela (Luciana Pedraza)

Manuela is a captivating tango dancer who embodies warmth and resilience. Though hesitant at first, her character becomes pivotal in John's life, offering him a glimpse of love and hope. She balances her responsibilities as a mother while exploring a complex relationship with John.

💃 Dance ❤️ Romantic Interest 👩‍👧 Mother

Girlfriend (Kathy Baker)

John's girlfriend represents the life he is leaving behind, showcasing love and stability. Her relationship with John is layered with trust and emotional complexity, adding tension to John's journey as he navigates his double life.

❤️ Love 👩‍👧‍👦 Family 🔄 Trust

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:41

Major Themes – Assassination Tango (2003)

Explore the central themes of Assassination Tango (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love and Loss

The theme of love and loss pervades 'Assassination Tango' as John grapples with his feelings for both his girlfriend and the enchanting dancer Manuela. His internal conflict highlights the sacrifices made in the pursuit of love, emphasizing the emotional toll of his violent profession.

💃 Dance as Escape

Dance, particularly tango, serves as a powerful metaphor for escape in the film. Through tango, John discovers a world free from his violent realities, offering him moments of connection and warmth. It symbolizes his longing for a life defined by passion rather than crime.

🔪 Morality and Crime

The movie explores the moral ambiguity of a hitman's life, where love and crime coexist. John's character reflects the challenges of balancing professional obligations with personal relationships, raising questions about the consequences of one's choices in a morally complex world.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:41

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about killers and art like Assassination Tango

Killers who find an unexpected moral crossroads through immersion in a beautiful art.If you liked the story of an assassin finding unexpected grace in Assassination Tango, you'll appreciate these films. This thread gathers movies where hitmen, spies, and criminals have their worldviews shaken by encounters with beautiful art forms, leading to powerful internal conflict and bittersweet dramas.

melancholicsensualreflectivetenseartisticlonelyredemptiveinternal conflict

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a skilled but emotionally detached killer on an assignment. While waiting or preparing, they are pulled into a world of intense artistic expression—be it tango, painting, or music. This immersion creates a deep internal conflict, forcing the character to confront the emptiness of their life versus the beauty they've discovered, often leading to a tragic or bittersweet choice.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their unique blend of a gritty crime premise with a soulful artistic journey. They share a tone that is both melancholic and sensual, exploring themes of duality, redemption, and the power of beauty to temporarily transcend a life of violence.

Movies about fleeting escape like Assassination Tango

Stories of temporary passion and beauty that are shadowed by an unavoidable reality.For viewers who enjoyed the bittersweet temporary romance and cultural immersion in Assassination Tango, this thread finds similar films. These stories focus on characters who find a beautiful but unsustainable escape from their reality, resulting in melancholic and deeply reflective dramas about what could have been.

bittersweetmelancholicsensualnostalgiclonelyreflectiveescapistromantic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist entering a new environment, often while on a specific mission or due to circumstance. They become immersed in a local culture and form a deep, often romantic, connection that serves as a complete escape from their normal life. The core tension comes from the audience's awareness that this interlude is temporary, building towards an inevitable and bittersweet farewell.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific emotional mix: the hopeful, sensual glow of a perfect escape contrasted with the melancholic dread of its impending end. They are united by a slow, atmospheric pacing that allows the viewer to feel the beauty of the moment and the weight of its fragility, leading to a reflective and bittersweet conclusion.

Unlock the Full Story of Assassination Tango

Don't stop at just watching — explore Assassination Tango in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Assassination Tango is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Assassination Tango Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Assassination Tango, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Assassination Tango Summary

Assassination Tango Timeline

Track the full timeline of Assassination Tango with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Assassination Tango Timeline

Assassination Tango Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Assassination Tango that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Assassination Tango Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Assassination Tango

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Assassination Tango: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Assassination Tango

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