Hero or traitor? That’s the driving question behind The Wolf, a sleek and intelligent political thriller that was Spain’s second highest grossing picture of last year. Summoning up the vivid vision of Spain in the 1970s – a country torn between Franco’s dictatorial regime on one side and ETA’s terrorist activities on the other – it tells the true story of double agent Mikel Lejarza. Going under the code name el lobo (‘the wolf’), Lejarza infiltrated the Basque separatist group ETA and brought about the capture of over a quarter of its members, an unprecedented success for the state. But what if the state is one that readily trades in fear, corruption and violence? When do freedom fighters become terrorists? Inhabiting these tricksy moral grey areas, The Wolf presents a myriad of viewpoints – from the idealists and the power-hungry, to the sadists and the disaffected – without bias. Around this political core spins a slick and enjoyable thriller loaded with tense spy games, explosive action and an exhilarating pace, but ultimately, it remains the tale of one man, el lobo himself. Brilliantly played by Eduardo Noriega (Open Your Eyes, The Devil’s Backbone), he is characterised as flawed, courageous, risk-taking, an enigma, and his story of survival and sacrifice is a gripping and pertinent one. To this day, ETA commandos reputedly each carry a spare bullet designated for the traitor, el lobo, so deep was the impression he left. JG
