Juan Galiñanes has made his directorial debut with Fatum (2023), which has garnered attention from critics and audiences. This electrifying and fast-paced thriller is set within a 12-hour timeframe, revolving around a daring betting house robbery. Fatum (2023) delivers everything you could ever ask for. It features a versatile script with well-defined characters, offbeat but plausible plots, and skillfully dosed suspense that intensifies as it progresses toward an uncertain ending.
These are just a few elements that contribute to making this film an engrossing spectacle. The film is well constructed around fate or destiny, as referenced in its Latin title. It suggests that unseen or unexplainable forces shape events in a certain direction. Director Galiñanes doesn’t overdo things with excessive staging or extravagant special effects. Instead, he carefully employs a restrained approach to create meaningful connections between the characters that feel genuine and natural. Spoiler ahead.
Fatum (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis :
The film begins with a social scene portraying a bleak and discouraging poverty situation. The scene depicts how those without privileges are trapped in the disparity gap. There’s a man named Sergio who has a wife and children. He chases after his family to prevent another marital crisis caused by his gambling problem. Sergio wants to stop his wife from leaving and takes a bus to her parent’s house to escape her hopelessness and prevent their family from falling apart. All of this unfolds in La Coruña, Spain. In fact, two parallel plotlines in this story will eventually become a single story.
There’s this sniper expert from the National Police, whose name is Pablo. He has a 6-year-old child with an inborn severe heart condition. His wife is named Lidia, and they’re currently waiting for a heart donor compatible with his son. After that, we are introduced to Sergio. He has destroyed his life with gambling and has attempted countless times to convince his wife, Marta, to give him a chance again at reconciliation after disappointing her so many times. Two families each have a boy about 12 years old and a girl about 5 years old.
Sergio eventually succeeds in getting the new opportunity, even though it seems unlikely. No matter how many times Sergio tries to please his wife and assures her that he’s going to change, he becomes tempted when a friend tells him about a rigged football bet that could make him rich. And because he wants to escape poverty, Sergio doesn’t hesitate and quickly steals money from his wife to place the bet, hoping to strike it big this time. He knows that he really needs to redeem himself. But he also understands how important it is to recover every bit of money he wasted. He realizes that this could be his last chance and takes the risk.
When he’s supposed to take the kids to school, he goes to the betting house instead to give them the money for his bet. Even though children are restricted from entering the establishment, they still manage to get in as they are friends’ children. His older son sends a picture of Sergio spending money again on gambling to his mother. She hurries to rush over and save the children. Everything seems to be perfect for Sergio now; he’s trying to make the most significant shift of his life. Also, just as the mother and the children are about to leave the establishment, that’s when everything turns upside down. Two masked men armed with weapons enter to rob the whole place.
Fatum (2023) Movie Ending, Explained:
How did Pablo and Sergio cross paths?
The robbery at the establishment catches the attention of the authorities, and Pablo receives a call from Commissioner Costa to go on a mission. Even his personal life is currently in a crisis. As a GEO sniper, he must have a sense of duty that takes precedence over his personal life. Pablo goes to the establishment intending to stop all the criminals and prevent them from risking more lives. Because his son currently needs a transplant and is at the hospital, he’s struggling to focus on his mission. The way he moves makes his anxiety and nervousness evident, leaving him feeling shaken and crushed as he thinks about his son waiting in the hospital for a life-saving donation.
How does Fatum end?
When Pablo can’t concentrate because of his son’s situation and the masked man gets within range, he doesn’t manage to kill him. Instead, Sergio’s son dies in the crossfire. When they’re at the hospital, Pablo is told that his son already has a donor. He learns and recognizes that the child who died is Sergio’s son. Pablo instantly feels the guilt. At that moment, Sergio finally understands everything that is happening and asks Pablo for a favor — to kill the robber — and in return, he will sign the donation consent.
Pablo doesn’t even think twice and agrees. But when the moment arrives, he backs out, stating he can’t take a life. Sergio renders Pablo unconscious, takes his firearm, and attempts to shoot the robber. However, his conscience stops him. This leads to Sergio being arrested. At the end of the film, we also see that after a while, Sergio is at a shopping center with his daughter. He spots Pablo, who is now with his healthy son. They make eye contact and exchange greetings.
What does the title Fatum signify?
The movie titled Fatum draws its inspiration from the Latin word for fate or destiny. Fatum makes it clear that every action we make has its consequences and reflects how we choose to live our lives. Despite declaring many times that he will change and abstain from being a gambler, we see how Sergio is still tempted and takes risks without calculating the effects on his family. This is because gambling can sometimes be a life-and-death encounter. At times, we forget that we’re the architects of our own fate, and that’s the essence of Fatum.
