The Bilbaos review – soulful study of a tough guy boxer dealing with emotional baggage

Fresh out of prison after a five-year stint in maximum security, Iván Bilbao comes home to the open arms of his family in Chascomús, a small town two hours south of Buenos Aires. Looking to return to professional boxing, he maintains his muscular physique through rigorous training, all while keeping his old job as a moneylender. Seeing beyond Iván’s criminal past, Pedro Speroni’s soulful documentary reveals the fragility that lies behind his tough-guy facade.

Bearing the marks of his difficult life, Iván’s handsome, weathered face softens when he is with his girlfriend Yamila and her daughter Luz. When the day winds down, laughter fills the house as the three of them share a meal together. At the same time, the emotional baggage of family traumas, along with economic insecurity, also threaten to disrupt Iván’s efforts at rehabilitation. A tender scene where he serenades Yamila is quickly followed by a heated argument in which an angry Iván lashes out at his mother for being unsupportive of his relationships.

Muddled by the dark currents of generational tension, Iván’s homecoming is thus far from smooth sailing. Conversations with his parents provide a glimpse into his rough childhood, when he was bullied and neglected. In threading together the past and present, Speroni shows how Iván’s crime is not solely an individual issue but also stems from societal and family factors.

In addition to its clear-eyed commentary, the film is also rich with the textures and moods of life in Chascomús. From time to time, the camera peacefully observes the wordless routines of Iván’s household and their small intimacies, such as little Luz dancing by herself to a song on the TV. Closing with the birth of Iván’s child with Yamila, the film is bookended by two different kinds of a new beginning, each brimming with hope.

• The Bilbaos is on True Story from 22 November.