The Art of Losing

A hard-edged journalist entangled in a murder investigation while probing bourgeois notions of romance. He leverages official protection to pursue the truth, but is drawn into political manipulation and personal compromise. He endures hemorrhoids and asthma during the case and gradually confronts the tension between integrity and expediency. His evolving feelings for Quica complicate his commitment to uncovering the full truth.

A police colonel who uses Silampa as a tool to advance his own power, offering protection in exchange for political favors and a public speech. He embodies the corruption within the system, prioritizing image and control over justice. Throughout the affair, he pushes the journalist toward producing the ‘official version’ while orchestrating leverage over the investigation.

A young prostitute who becomes emotionally involved with Silampa. She navigates the dangers of a city rife with crime, loyalty to others, and shifting alliances. Quica’s warmth and resilience contrast with the cynicism of the men around her, and she ultimately faces the consequences of getting courtside with powerful players.

A civil engineer with a razor focus on land development and profit. He orchestrates moves to seize the lakeside deed, employing intimidation and a network of cronies. His ambition ties directly into the land dispute at the heart of the case, making him a key architect of the corruption and the violence that ensues.

A councilman deeply embedded in local politics, entangled with Barragan and Vargas in schemes to control the lake land. He is portrayed as calculating and pragmatic, willing to bend or break rules to secure favored outcomes. His influence helps sustain the complex web of corruption the film exposes.

A lawyer connected to Esquilache, married to the councilman’s niece, who becomes a pivotal figure in the plot. Barragán’s actions reveal ruthlessness and a willingness to destabilize rivals through extreme measures, culminating in a fatal confrontation that shifts the power balance.

Manager of the Turkish baths and a lover of Tiflis, she moves within the same dangerous circles as the other antagonists. Susan’s role centers on handling information and entangling others in the schemes surrounding the Deed, making her a critical piece in the corruption network.

Estupiñan is the missing taxi driver who shares a familial bond with another key character. His disappearance and later fate become a personal motivator for his brother, driving the investigation toward a violent reckoning with the culprits.