The Crimes That Bind

The Crimes That Bind

Year: 2020

Runtime: 99 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Sebastián Schindel

Echo Score: 75

Budget: $1M

DramaThrillerCrime

To protect her son from a wrongful conviction, Alicia embarks on a dangerous journey through lies and hidden agendas. As she fights to prove his innocence, she uncovers a disturbing network of secrets and betrayals that put her and her family in peril, forcing her to confront powerful forces and question everything she thought she knew.

The Crimes That Bind (2020) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the elegant heart of Buenos Aires, a tightly‑knit family navigates a world of refined social gatherings and whispered expectations. Alicia lives in a spacious apartment with her long‑time husband, Ignacio, their devoted maid Gladys, and the little boy she cares for, Santi. The home, filled with polished décor and the hum of affluent friends, feels both a sanctuary and a gilded cage, hinting at deeper currents beneath the surface of daily routine.

When a looming legal battle threatens to upend the fragile equilibrium, the bonds between each member are tested. Daniel, Alicia’s adult son, becomes the focal point of concern, and the mounting pressure forces the family to confront unsettling questions about loyalty, truth, and the price of silence. Around them, Gladys carries her own secret past, and the presence of Santi adds a tender counterpoint to the tension, suggesting that love and responsibility may stretch far beyond blood ties.

As the stakes rise, Alicia must reconcile her fierce devotion with the reality that not everything is as it seems. Guided by a compassionate psychologist, she begins to peel back layers of denial, confronting the hidden agendas that surround her. The film’s tone blends stark realism with an intimate, almost lyrical portrait of a woman caught between protecting her loved ones and facing an unavoidable reckoning. The elegant setting, nuanced performances, and quiet yet persistent undercurrent of unease create a compelling portrait of family, honor, and the fragile line between certainty and doubt.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:12

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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 family secrets and maternal devotion like The Crimes That Bind

A mother uncovers dangerous secrets while fighting to protect her family.If you liked The Crimes That Bind, explore more movies where a mother's love is tested by dark family secrets and a fight against injustice. These similar drama-thrillers feature heavy emotional weight, tense pacing, and the unraveling of dangerous truths close to home.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a character who believes they know their family, only to have that perception shattered by a crime or secret. The narrative thrust comes from their desperate investigation to uncover the truth, often against powerful opposition, leading to a loss of innocence and a redefined sense of family.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their central theme of familial betrayal, the heavy emotional journey of uncovering painful secrets, and the protagonist's transformation from a state of denial to one of stark, bittersweet acceptance.

Legal thrillers and justice dramas with a steady pace like The Crimes That Bind

A steady-paced, tense fight against a wrongful conviction and systemic failure.Viewers who enjoyed the methodical tension and legal battles in The Crimes That Bind will find similar stories here. These movies like The Crimes That Bind feature steady-paced narratives, wrongful accusations, and a gripping fight against a corrupt or flawed system.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist doggedly pursuing the truth in the face of a seemingly closed case or overwhelming evidence. The story unfolds through investigation, courtroom drama, and key confrontations, systematically dismantling the official narrative to reveal a more disturbing reality, often involving betrayal and corruption.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific narrative structure focused on proving innocence, a steady and methodical pacing that builds suspense, a dark tone centered on injustice, and a high level of emotional intensity derived from the high-stakes personal fight.

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