Faking Death and Forging Destiny

“The Reborn” (original Spanish title: “Los Renacidos”) is a 2025 thriller film directed by Santiago Esteves, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film centers on two estranged brothers, Manuel (Pedro Fontaine) and Oscar (Marco Antonio Caponi), who run a clandestine business inherited from their father: helping individuals fake their own deaths and facilitating their cross-border disappearance to assume new identities. A complex and high-stakes operation puts their lives and their family’s legacy in jeopardy, forcing them to confront their strained relationship and define their collective destiny amidst growing danger.

• The Estranged Brothers: The film introduces Manuel (Pedro Fontaine) and Oscar (Marco Antonio Caponi), two brothers who, despite being in a inherited family business, have grown estranged. Manuel works as a doctor, is in a relationship with Ivana (Verónica Gerez), and is expecting a child, suggesting a desire for a more stable, conventional life. Oscar, the brother who returns and disrupts Manuel’s newfound peace, seems more entrenched in the illicit business.

• The Business of Disappearing: Their inherited business involves an elaborate and dangerous process of faking deaths and smuggling clients across borders for a new life. This operation is managed by their uncle/boss (Óscar de la Fuente), who runs the larger network.

• A High-Stakes Job: The brothers are compelled to undertake a new, particularly complex and dangerous assignment for their uncle. This client is Ruiz (Federico Liss), an accountant from a drug trafficking gang who has stolen from his bosses and has a price on his head, making his “disappearance” crucial and perilous.

• Fractured Family Legacy: As they embark on this mission, the brothers’ long-standing frustrations, jealousies, and egos resurface. The dangerous nature of their work forces them into close quarters, inadvertently creating an opportunity to address their past grievances and redefine their family’s “legacy,” which is built on deception and illicit activities.

• A Border Thriller: The film is described as a “hard, dry police thriller” that unfolds along the border between Mendoza, Argentina, and Chile. This setting emphasizes the themes of crossing boundaries, physical and metaphorical, and the liminal space these “reborn” individuals occupy.

• Uncertain Paths: The chaotic nature of the operation not only puts the clients’ lives at risk but also offers the brothers an unexpected chance to mend their broken relationship, which they had believed was irrevocably lost. The film explores the moral ambiguities of their profession and the personal costs of a life built on lies.

• Estranged brothers Manuel and Oscar run a family business specializing in faking deaths and smuggling people across borders for new identities.

• Their uncle, who manages the larger operation, tasks them with a high-risk job: making a drug cartel accountant, Ruiz, disappear after he stole from his bosses.

• The complex and dangerous nature of this mission forces Manuel and Oscar to work closely, bringing their past grievances and strained relationship to the surface.

• As the operation unfolds along the Argentina-Chile border, their lives are put at risk, and they are compelled to confront the legacy of their family business and their own intertwined destinies.

Santiago Esteves, known for his previous feature film “Rey’s Education” (La educación del Rey), brings a distinct vision to “The Reborn”:

• Gritty, Realistic Thriller: Esteves aims for a “hard, dry police thriller” with intense, professional characters. He focuses on creating tension through the intricacies of the operation and the psychological strain on the protagonists.

• Character-Driven Narrative: While a thriller, the film is deeply rooted in the relationship between the two brothers, exploring their personal frustrations, jealousies, and how their past impacts their present. The dangerous mission becomes a crucible for their emotional journey.

• Moral Ambiguity: Esteves is likely interested in exploring the moral grey areas of his characters’ profession, where helping people escape might also involve breaking laws and engaging with dangerous individuals.

• Attention to Detail: Reviews of his previous work suggest Esteves pays “much attention to detail and plenty of care given to ensuring a quality mise-en-scène,” aiming to make “the most out of very little” in terms of setting.

• Universal Themes within Genre: Esteves has stated “The Reborn is a thriller that deals with the universal theme,” suggesting he aims for the film to resonate beyond its specific plot by exploring concepts like family, destiny, and the human desire for a fresh start. He hoped premiering it in China would allow him to “cross different audience barriers.”

• Brotherhood and Estrangement: The central theme revolves around the complex and fractured relationship between Manuel and Oscar, exploring themes of family duty, resentment, and the possibility of reconciliation.

• Identity and Reinvention: The core business of faking deaths directly addresses themes of identity, what it means to shed one’s past, and the possibility (or impossibility) of true rebirth.

• Legacy: The brothers are forced to confront the “destiny of their family’s legacy,” which is built on a dangerous and morally questionable enterprise.

• Deception and Lies: The film explores the layers of deception inherent in their business, and how living a life of lies affects the individuals involved.

• Redemption (Implied): The chaotic operation that forces the brothers together offers a surprising chance for them to recover their lost bonds, hinting at a potential for personal or familial redemption.

• Moral Ambiguity: The film is likely to explore the ethical dilemmas of their work and the blurred lines between helping and enabling.

• Shanghai International Film Festival Selection: Being selected for the main competition of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival is a significant international premiere, garnering early buzz and critical attention.

• Santiago Esteves’ Track Record: Esteves’ previous feature, “Rey’s Education” (La educación del Rey), was critically acclaimed, building anticipation for his new work.

• Compelling Premise: The high-stakes business of faking deaths and the estranged brother dynamic create an immediately engaging thriller concept.

• Strong Cast: The film features a solid ensemble of Argentine, Chilean, and Spanish actors.

• International Co-Production: The film is a co-production between Argentina, Spain, and Chile, broadening its appeal and reach.

• Industry Recognition: “The Reborn” won the Málaga festival prize for Best Spanish Production in the MAFIZ Work in Progress (WIP) section, indicating early industry confidence.

As a very recent international co-production, “The Reborn” has already gained significant attention on the festival circuit, particularly in Asia and Latin America.

Summary: “The Reborn” has quickly made its mark on the international festival circuit, notably receiving a Golden Goblet Award nomination at the Shanghai International Film Festival and winning a work-in-progress award at the Málaga Film Festival, highlighting its early critical and industry promise.

Given its recent premieres at international film festivals, comprehensive critical reception from a wide range of major outlets is still emerging. However, early mentions and the film’s festival selections indicate a certain level of critical interest.

• Festival Recognition: Its selection for the main competition at SIFF and its win at Málaga WIP suggest that the film is seen as a strong artistic endeavor with a compelling premise by festival programmers and industry professionals.

• Director’s Style: Santiago Esteves is known for his work in thrillers and dramas that often explore complex human relationships and moral dilemmas (as seen in his previous work, “La educación del Rey”). Critics familiar with his style might expect “The Reborn” to carry similar thematic depth and suspense.

• Emerging Reviews: As of late July 2025, individual in-depth reviews from major publications are not yet widely aggregated. Critical assessments are likely to focus on its plot execution, character development, and the film’s ability to deliver on its thriller elements while exploring family dynamics.

Summary: Critical reception for “The Reborn” is in its nascent stages due to its recent festival premieres. Its selection for prestigious competition slots suggests a promising reception for its artistic qualities and compelling narrative, aligning with director Santiago Esteves’s reputation for intricate thrillers.

Reviews and official synopses provide a clear picture of the film’s intriguing premise, which combines elements of crime, family drama, and suspense.

• Plot Overview: The film centers on two estranged brothers who are deeply entangled in a dangerous and illicit family business: helping people fake their own deaths and facilitating their clandestine escape across borders.

• Family Legacy and High Stakes: A complex and highly sensitive operation puts their lives and the very future of their family’s legacy at grave risk. The film explores how this perilous work forces them to confront their strained relationship and define the destiny of their inheritance – both material and moral.

• Themes of Deception and Identity: The core of the narrative revolves around deception, not just for their clients but potentially within their own family, and the profound implications of fabricating new identities. It touches on themes of rebirth (as hinted by the title) in a literal and metaphorical sense.

• Thriller Elements: The synopsis emphasizes the “dangerous business” and “complex operation” that puts their lives “at stake,” indicating strong thriller elements with suspenseful sequences and high tension.

• Brotherhood and Conflict: The “estranged brothers” dynamic is central to the film’s emotional core, suggesting a story where past grievances and conflicting approaches to their shared enterprise fuel the dramatic tension.

• Co-production Context: Being an Argentine, Spanish, and Chilean co-production, the film likely brings together diverse talents and perspectives, potentially enriching its narrative and visual style.

Summary: “The Reborn” is reviewed as a thriller-drama that follows two estranged brothers who operate a perilous family business of faking people’s deaths and helping them disappear. As a high-stakes operation threatens their lives, they are forced to confront their difficult relationship and the complex legacy they are poised to inherit, exploring themes of deception, identity, and brotherhood against a backdrop of suspense.

“The Reborn (2025)” had its world premiere as part of the official selection at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival in June 2025. Wider theatrical release dates have not been publicly announced as of July 2025, but will likely occur throughout 2025.

• Intriguing Premise: The unique concept of a family business built on faking deaths and new identities offers a high-stakes and morally complex narrative.

• Santiago Esteves’ Direction: Fans of Esteves’ previous work, “Rey’s Education,” will be eager to see his latest take on a character-driven thriller.

• Brotherhood Dynamic: The film’s core exploration of an estranged sibling relationship adds emotional depth to the thriller genre.

• International Flair: A co-production between Argentina, Spain, and Chile, offering a distinct Latin American cinematic voice.

• Festival Acclaim: Its selection for the Shanghai International Film Festival and win at Málaga WIP signals its quality and potential.

“The Reborn” aligns with the trend of neo-noir family thrillers, particularly from Latin American cinema, which blend classic crime genre elements with deep character studies and moral ambiguity. These films often explore the dark underbelly of family legacies, the corrupting influence of illicit businesses, and the psychological toll on individuals caught in a web of secrets and danger. They prioritize gritty realism, complex relationships, and a sense of impending doom, drawing on elements of classic noir while updating them with contemporary social and cultural contexts.

The film taps into the timeless social trend of the human desire for reinvention and escapism, often pushed to extreme measures. In a world where personal histories can feel overwhelming or inescapable, the fantasy of simply “disappearing” and starting anew holds a powerful allure. “The Reborn” dramatizes the dark side of this fantasy, exploring the perilous lengths people will go to shed their pasts. It resonates with contemporary anxieties about identity, accountability, and the struggle to outrun one’s circumstances, while also subtly commenting on the forces (economic, criminal, personal) that might compel individuals to seek such radical solutions.

“The Reborn (2025),” directed by Santiago Esteves, is a tense and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the dangerous world of faking deaths and the complex bonds of brotherhood. With its intriguing premise of estranged siblings running a morally ambiguous family business, the film promises a gritty and character-driven narrative. Esteves, known for his nuanced storytelling, delivers a film that explores themes of identity, legacy, and the possibility of redemption amidst high-stakes deception. Its selection for the Shanghai International Film Festival and a prize at Málaga confirm its strong artistic merit, making it a highly anticipated watch for fans of intelligent, international thrillers.