Jarrapellejos

Synopsis of Jarrapellejos

Set in La Joya, Extremadura, in 1912, the story follows Don Pedro Luis Jarrapellejos, a powerful man who controls the social, political, and economic life of the region. His absolute power is challenged only by Isabel, a humble young woman who resists his advances. When Isabel and her mother are found raped and murdered, Jarrapellejos, knowing the identity of the perpetrators—his own nephew and the Count of La Cruz—uses his vast network of influence to cover up the crime, even at the cost of innocent lives. This acclaimed 1988 Spanish film, directed by Antonio Giménez-Rico and based on the novel by Felipe Trigo, is a stark portrait of corruption and political bossism in early 20th-century rural Spain.