Death and the Compass

1992 ""

Death and the Compass

6 | 1h26m | en | Drama

In a totalitarian future, in a nightmare metropolis, inhabited only by criminals and police, Erik Lonnrot, a gifted detective, investigates a series of strange murders and disappearances that seem to implicate a insane crime lord. (Re-released in 1996 as a feature film, 86 minutes.)

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6 | 1h26m | en | More Info

Released: August. 05,1992 | Released Producted By: TVE , BBC Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

info

Genre

Drama , Thriller , TV Movie

Watch Online

Death and the Compass (1992) is currently not available on any services.

Cast

Peter Boyle , Miguel Sandoval , Christopher Eccleston , Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez , Pedro Armendáriz Jr. , Alonso Echánove

Director

Anna Sánchez Gennaro

Producted By

TVE

Death and the Compass Videos and Images

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Top Credited Cast
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Crew

Peter Boyle

as Lonnrot

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Miguel Sandoval

as Treviranus

The Grotto Sharp Objects Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Blood Father Sun Belt Express Oculus Bad Judge Tales of Masked Men Repo Chick Spoken Word

Christopher Eccleston

as Schartach / Zunz / Gryphius

Unchosen Doctor Who: Unleashed - 20 Years of New Who in Wales 28 Days Later Whispers of Freedom Young Woman and the Sea The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston An Angel on Oxford Street Doctor Who at the Proms Dodger Special: Coronation Dodger Special: Bad Egg

Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez

as Ms. Espinoza / Harlequin

Hermanas, un amor compartido Curandero El hijo de su padre Glaciar ¡Que viva México! La doble vida de Estela Carrillo Por siempre Joan Sebastián Ask God For Forgiveness... Not Me The Precocious and Brief Life of Sabina Rivas Actors, Inc.

Pedro Armendáriz Jr.

as Blot

El show: crónica de un asesinato From Inside The Snitch Cartel Freelancers Casa de Mi Padre Awakening The Power of Destiny Sin Memoria El baile de San Juan Nikté

Alonso Echánove

as Novalis

El grito Mundos cósmicos Mighty Victoria Kokoloko Mi mariachi The Promise Familia Gang 4 Moons Todos hemos pecado 2033

Anna Sánchez Gennaro

Art Direction

Cecilia Montiel

Production Design

Miguel Garzón

Director of Photography

Angela Dodson

Costume Design

Gabriel Solana

Hair Designer

Juan M. Guevara

Hairstylist

Gabriel Solana

Makeup Designer

Alex Cox

Director

Carlos Puente

Editor

Alejandra Liceaga

Associate Producer

Miguel Camacho

Co-Executive Producer

Diego López Rivera

Co-Executive Producer

Katsumi Ishikuma

Executive Producer

Andrés Vicente Gómez

Producer

Lorenzo O'Brien

Producer

Karl Braun

Producer

Alejandra Liceaga

Production Manager

Dan Wool

Original Music Composer

Jorge Luis Borges

Original Story

Alex Cox

Screenplay

Death and the Compass Audience Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Brightlyme i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

JoeytheBrit Oh dear. I watched this one a week ago, and although there's no way it can be described as bland or unmemorable – although probably for all the wrong reasons – there's little about this adaptation of Borges' novel by Alex Cox that impressed me enough to make a lasting impression. Cox's style has always been quirky, shall we say – and sometimes he's very good, but this one is an almighty mess that is only partly salvaged by Cox's customarily strong visual style. The story sprawls like spilled liquid with no confines to contain it. The acting borders on amateur dramatic level at times – which is unremarkable in a lot of cases, but not from the likes of Boyle and Eccleston – and the script is like something out of a DC comic book. Definitely a Marmite movie by the looks of it.

JustApt In his Death and Compass Jorge Luis Borges mocked Arthur Conan Doyle's brainchild Sherlock Holmes with his pure deduction and in his film Alex Cox goes still farther – he stretches the story to its logical limit turning it into an acerbic black comedy. The scene is some dystopian megalopolis consisting of back alleys and human warrens. And he crams it with Borges' symbols and signs: infinite mazes and deceitful mirrors, he even puts there Borges' hypothetical locus mundi – the mystical aleph. This brilliant movie is rather hard to get into and appreciate fully so it suits best only those who are both Jorge Luis Borges and Alex Cox connoisseurs.

Woodyanders Brilliant and diligent, but quirky and unorthodox detective Erik Lonnrot (splendidly played by the late, great Peter Boyle) investigates a bizarre series of murders in a bleak and chaotic futuristic city run by a strict totalitarian government. Lonnrot uncovers a complex occult conspiracy which places him in considerable peril. Writer/director Alex ("Repo Man") Cox relates the involving, intricate and elliptical narrative with remarkably bracing'n'bravura flashy, lively and insanely stylized aplomb, bringing a real sense of potent urgency, a playfully nutty tongue-in-cheek sensibility, and a ceaseless rapid-fire breakneck momentum to the fascinatingly eccentric story. Miguel Garzon's agile, prowling, restless cinematography makes especially adroit and exciting use of lengthy unedited takes. Pray for Rain's wonky and strikingly unique, yet catchy and rousing oddball score constitutes as another significant asset. The occasional fractured jump cuts are likewise quite effective and impressive. Boyle excels in a rare juicy and substantial lead, receiving bang-up support from Christopher Eccleston as an atheist religious expert and Miguel Sandoval as Lonnrot's loyal, sympathetic superior. The jolting surprise twist ending packs one hell of a startling punch. But what truly makes this film such a joy to watch is the feverishly hyperactive wealth of infectiously funky creativity and fiercely idiosyncratic originality evident throughout. A terrifically offbeat and inspired one-of-a-kind treat.

Infofreak I've been looking for 'Death and the Compass' for quite some time, as I'm an admirer of the Borges story that inspired it, and I thought it would be another piece in the puzzle of Alex Cox's frustrating career. Unfortunately I didn't manage to watch it on DVD and wasn't able to listen to Cox's commentary, one which I really could have done with! On top of that I watched it in two sittings, something I don't usually like doing. I really would like to watch it a second time as I feel my concentration was wavering. Anyway, it's yet another fascinating but flawed movie from Cox, a description which describes almost all his output since 'Repo Man', which to me is still his most completely satisfying work. Peter Boyle stars as the enigmatic detective Lonnrot(he had previously worked with Cox in the unfairly maligned 'Walker'), with Christopher Eccleston ('Shallow Grave') and Cox regular Miguel Sandoval supporting. Another comment mentioned 'Element Of Crime' as a stylistic reference point and I can see that, only on presumably a much smaller budget. Of course '...Compass' isn't anywhere near as good as Von Trier's film, but it does give you some idea of what to expect. I can't say I don't have some reservations about this movie, but if you like offbeat films that play with genre and require a bit of thought, then give this a shot. Me, I want to watch it a second time and hear what Alex Cox has to say about it before I make up my mind.