Jonah and the Pink Whale

Jonah and the Pink Whale

Year: 1995

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: Spanish

Drama

Bolivia’s 1996 Oscar entry follows a schoolteacher in Santa Cruz de la Sierra who begins an affair with his wife’s sister, risking his marriage and confronting a dubious father‑in‑law. Photographer Jonas and teen Julia share a sensual romance in a damp basement lab, amid rising drug trafficking that links Julia’s family to a powerful narco’s son.

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Timeline & Setting – Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1984

The movie takes place in 1984, a period marked by economic crisis, political instability, and rising drug trafficking in Bolivia. This era influences the characters' struggles and the overall atmosphere, highlighting societal tensions and personal conflicts during a turbulent time in Bolivian history.

Location

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra is a major city in Bolivia, known for its vibrant urban life amidst tropical surroundings. The city is affected by economic struggles and the growth of drug trafficking, reflecting social and political tensions. The sandhills, located outside the city, serve as a significant setting for the mausoleum construction and the film's symbolic landscape.

🌆 Urban 🌴 Tropical 🏜️ Sandhills

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:00

Main Characters – Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995)

Meet the key characters of Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jonás Larriva

A school teacher caught in a web of love, betrayal, and crime. His complex personality is marked by his rebelliousness, moral struggles, and vulnerability, especially as he navigates forbidden love and societal pressures.

🎓 Teacher 💔 Rebel 🔪 Tragic

Julia

Jonás's sister-in-law, characterized by her rebellious nature, sexual freedom, and defiance of family norms. Her pursuit of love leads her into dangerous territory involving crime, betrayal, and tragic sacrifice.

💃 Rebel 💋 Seductive 🚪 Forbidden

Patroclo

Julia's father, a powerful figure involved in the drug trade and family business. His influence and greed drive the plot's criminal elements and familial conflicts, symbolizing corruption and moral decay.

🏢 Power 💰 Greed ⚖️ Corrupt

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:00

Major Themes – Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995)

Explore the central themes of Jonah and the Pink Whale (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🖤 Incest & Forbidden Love

The film explores taboo relationships, focusing on the incestuous love between Jonás and Julia. This theme delves into societal rejection, moral boundaries, and the destructive nature of hidden passions within a conservative context.

💉 Corruption & Crime

Set against the backdrop of Bolivia's drug trade, the movie highlights how corruption influences personal lives and societal structures. Characters are embroiled in illegal activities like drug smuggling, reflecting the pervasive impact of crime and moral ambiguity.

🌧️ Fate & Destruction

The recurring imagery of rain and flooding symbolizes inevitable tragedy and the collapse of personal and moral boundaries. The film portrays how external social forces and inner conflicts propel characters toward destructive destinies.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:00

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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.

Tragic love stories in corrupt worlds like Jonah and the Pink Whale

Forbidden affairs that unravel under the weight of societal decay and crime.Explore movies like Jonah and the Pink Whale, where a clandestine romance becomes entangled with political or criminal corruption. These heavy dramas feature bleak, somber tones and explore the devastating consequences of pursuing forbidden love in a decaying society.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a passionate but forbidden relationship that begins in secret. The external pressures of a corrupt world—be it political, criminal, or familial—intensify the stakes, turning the affair into a high-risk endeavor. The story unfolds with a steady, deliberate pace, building tension as the private world of the lovers is inevitably invaded and destroyed by the public forces of decay and violence.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their potent mix of heavy romance and bleak societal critique. They share a somber, oppressive mood, a high emotional intensity, and a narrative focus on how personal tragedies are magnified and often caused by a broken, corrupt environment.

Dramas about moral decay and family betrayal like Jonah and the Pink Whale

Intimate stories where personal betrayals mirror a wider societal breakdown.If you liked the heavy themes of infidelity and societal collapse in Jonah and the Pink Whale, this thread features similar dramas. These movies explore the slow unraveling of personal morals and family bonds, set within a tense, somber atmosphere and leading to bleak conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often begin with a seemingly stable but fragile situation. A single, morally ambiguous choice, such as an affair, acts as a catalyst, triggering a chain reaction of consequences. The pacing is steady and deliberate, allowing the full weight of each betrayal and its ripple effects to be felt. The focus is on the internal and external collapse, where the lines between personal failing and societal pressure blur, culminating in a deeply somber resolution.

Why These Movies?

This grouping is defined by a shared focus on the theme of decay—both personal and societal. The movies possess a heavy emotional weight, a steady, almost inevitable pacing towards disaster, and a consistently bleak outlook on human nature and social structures.

Unlock the Full Story of Jonah and the Pink Whale

Don't stop at just watching — explore Jonah and the Pink Whale 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 Jonah and the Pink Whale is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Jonah and the Pink Whale Summary

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Jonah and the Pink Whale Summary

Jonah and the Pink Whale Timeline

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Jonah and the Pink Whale Timeline

Jonah and the Pink Whale Spoiler-Free Summary

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Jonah and the Pink Whale Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Jonah and the Pink Whale

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