Five Corners

In 1964, a high school teacher in the Bronx is fatally shot in the back with an arrow, an opening act that sets off a chain of violent events. The mysterious arrow attack hints at a brutal, unsettled neighborhood. The incident becomes the catalyst that ties the coming tragedy to the surrounding community.

A man casually negotiates with two seemingly intoxicated young women to be placed in the hands of two teenage boys, offering money for the arrangement. The deal sets up a dangerous, precocious car ride through the city. The scene suggests a world where adults exploit vulnerable youths.

Later, the two women awaken startled in an unfamiliar apartment, naked beneath the sheets. They are left to piece together how they ended up there and what happened during the ride. The unsettling discovery underscores the film's themes of vulnerability and exploitation.

The next day, the teenage boys inform the women about the murder of their teacher, explaining why they were involved in the car ride. The revelation connects the earlier abduction to a political and social climate of fear in the neighborhood. The exchange foreshadows the fragile loyalties that will shape the characters' choices.

Heinz, recently released from prison after serving time for attempted rape, returns to his old neighborhood. He aims to reunite with his ailing mother and rekindle his twisted relationship with Linda, the victim of his earlier assault. The return sets the stage for renewed danger and old grievances.

Harry, who had previously protected Linda during the near-rape, has embraced Buddhism and pacifism. He is moved by the murder of a policeman and by Dr. King’s non-violent protests, and he hopes to join the civil rights movement. His new stance complicates his ability to protect Linda when danger returns.

Heinz summons Linda to meet him in a park at midnight, and she agrees despite lingering fear. She senses he could be dangerous, yet she feels compelled to respond to the summons. The meeting is charged with tension as both characters weigh their past and present threats.

Upon arriving, Linda finds a board that could be used for defense and hides it from view. The improvised protective measure reveals her determination to defend herself. The scene underscores the precarious balance of power between the two.

To his surprise, Heinz gives Linda two stolen penguins as a bizarre gift. Linda reminds him that the penguins require specialized care and cannot simply be kept. The gift humiliates Heinz and escalates the tension between them.

Linda asserts that Heinz must return the penguins because they have special needs and because she is wary of his intentions. She rejects his romantic or coercive advances, making clear boundaries. The moment marks a turning point in their volatile dynamic.

Enraged by what he perceives as rejection, Heinz kills one of the penguins there in the park. The brutal act exposes the depths of his violence. Linda narrowly survives the confrontation.

In the ensuing struggle, Linda fights back and escapes with the surviving penguin. She uses the moment to regain control and remove herself from Heinz's reach. The escape shifts the scene to a rooftop confrontation.

Heinz drags an unconscious Linda to a rooftop where police forces secure the building. The distance between them becomes the final stand in the confrontation. Law enforcement presence adds urgency to the standoff.

A sharpshooter has a clear shot at Heinz but refrains from firing, prioritizing Linda's safety over immediate capture. The pause reveals the moral complexities faced by those trying to intervene. The moment heightens the drama as witnesses hold their breath.

Ultimately Heinz dies from a mysterious arrow entering his back, ending the immediate threat. The cause of death remains ambiguous, reinforcing the film's sense of unresolved danger. Linda survives the ordeal, but the cost is high.