The Bolivian Case

Special Presentations

The line “The truth is stranger than fiction” is one that gets thrown around quite a bit as a piece of hyperbole, but this slice of truth truly does have to been scene to be believed.  While there is so much going on in The Bolivian Case it can be easy to get a little muddled but it is a testament to the filmmakers who were able to lay out this shocking and convoluted case in a solid fashion.

After a friends vacation in Bolivia things take a drastic turn when 22kg of cocaine is discovered in their luggage and they are all subsequently sent to jail.  However that’s where the story starts to shift, while all three were charged with the same crime a very different narrative forms back in their home country of Norway.  One is painted is a victim, one was just naive and the other one was the master mind of the entire thing and no one was quite sure who to believe.

While a little messy at times it is a testament to the talent of the filmmakers behind The Bolivian Case who guided us through this web of lies, intrigue and mystery as best as humanly possible.  Director Violeta Ayala  takes down this rabbit hole where no one is to be trusted with great skill and aplomb as it is amazing that half of these people agreed to be on camera in the first place.

A TMZ wet dream, The Bolivian Case is a rich yarn of corruption, lies and deceit that I as a writer, simply couldn’t have made up even if I had tried and it makes for a head shaking ride that sadly happens in reality far more than we ever care to imagine.

The Bolivian Case has three more screenings during Hot Docs.

Tonight, Thurs Apr. 30th at 9:15PM at the Bloor Hot Docs Theatre

Fri. May 1st at 9PM at the Isabel Bader Theatre

Sunday May 3rd at 1:30 PM at the Hart House Theatre