Violence, Oppression, and Double Standards in Three Colombian Films

<p>This article compares three Colombian films that tell distinct stories of violence, personal and political oppression, and double standards. The films <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Confesión a Laura</span> (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Confessing to Laura</span>, Jaime Osorio, 1991),<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> La Primera Noche</span> (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">The First Night</span>, Luis Alberto Restrepo, 2003) and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">El Rey</span> (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">The King</span>, José Antonio Dorado, 2004) each highlight the characters’ struggles in the Colombian socio-political landscape. Each film’s content and themes do not merely offer representations of national culture, but also provide a way in which to discuss the political and social struggles of Colombia. The directors explore these stories of violence and socio-political struggle through the use of mis-en-scène, cinematography, sound, and editing.