About Lion's Den

Lion's Den, is an Argentine drama film, released in 2008. The film was directed by Pablo Trapero and co-written by Trapero, Alejandro Fadel, Martín Mauregui, and Santiago Mitre. The plot centres around a pregnant woman named Julia, who is sent to a maternity jail after being found guilty of the murder of her lover and his mother. The movie showcases the complexities that Julia faces while dealing with her situation.

Making / Production

The film was a collaborative effort between the Argentine director Pablo Trapero and a team of writers. It was filmed primarily in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Trapero's choice of setting—a maternity prison—casts a harsh light on the punitive aspects of the Argentine legal system, while at the same time exploring complex themes of maternity and personal growth.

Actors

• Martina Gusman as Julia: Martina Gusman, in the role of Julia, gives an evocatively raw and emotionally charged performance. Her depiction of a mother navigating the precarious world of a prison while raising her child gives a human face to the Argentine penal system.
• Elliot Tishman as Tomás: Elliot Tishman, playing the part of Tomas, Julia's son, highlights the poetic and deeply moving relation between a son and his imprisoned mother.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Director Pablo Trapero casts his real-life wife, Martina Gusman, in the leading role of Julia.
• The prison scenes in the movie were shot in an actual women's prison in Buenos Aires.

Awards

The film was nominated for several awards, including the Palm d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Martina Gusman also received Best Actress nominations at the Argentine Film Critics Association Awards and the Havana Film Festival for her role as Julia.

Quotes

• "I'm not a visitor, I live here." - Martina Gusman as Julia
• "This is a prison, not a nursery." - An unnamed prison guard

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Iván Wyszogrod, featuring a haunting score that adds a layer of intensity to the film's poignant narrative.
• The music serves as a silent character in the film, providing a rhythmic, thematically deep undercurrent to the intense dramas unfolding on screen.