Caballos Salvajes is about an older looking man who steals a large sum of money from the bank and then goes on the run with a bank worker who decides to help him out. Although the relationship between both men was very hostile right from the start, throughout their trip to the south of Argentina both men begin to talk through their problems and grow close. During the trip the men realize that they are involved in something bigger than just a bank robbery and they are faced with different circumstances which they resolve together. The movie includes serious circumstances surrounding the main characters, but is also filled with comedy in the way in which they handle their business and in the dialogue. Towards the end of the movie we are faced with the revealing of some facts and the mood of the movie switches to a much more tender and loving one. Overall the movie is very comical and exciting, and the acting very much entertaining.

When you first start watching Caballos Salvajes it is a little bit confusing; by this I mean that the movie starts out with a "sort-of" bank robbery in which you are not quite certain of what exactly is taking place, in fact you don't fully understand (or at least I didn't) until 1/3 of the way through the movie. I think that the director did this on purpose because it is evident that even the characters don't know what's happening for quite some time; that was done to reinforce the continuity of the film. Since this movie is from 1995 the image quality and clarity isn't quite what most are used to and sometimes the subtitles are misspelt but if you can look past that it is actually a very well done movie.The plot, as I said before is uncertain in the beginning, but by the last half of the movie we see that it has turned into the easily discernible genre of a "road movie." For example: José (Hector Alterio) at the beginning of the movie is cynical and even suicidal but towards the end he is happy and says he is actually living. The movie also takes on the message of corruption, because José just wanted the money the bank had stolen from him but through chance him and Pedro take 500,000 dollars of money that was probably from illegal operations like drug smuggling. Pedro & José are not corrupt and they give the money back, but they give it back to the people. They in turn, are considered heroes by the public (modern day Robin Hoods as noted by someone else) in fact almost everywhere they go they are helped out by the people they meet. This movie brings to light corruption in the banking industry of Buenos Aires and classically shows that good prevails, even though José is killed in the end, he is at least happy.

Corruption exists on many levels. While Argentine cinema is certainly full of films about exposing institutional corruption, what makes Caballos Selvajes so moving is its focus on the personal choices of individuals in contributing to or avoiding corruption. The decision a young banker instinctively makes when confronting a life, death and money situation sets him on a path which irrevocably veers him away from becoming like his corrupt boss at the bank. Likewise that of an ambitious young journalist contrasts him sharply with his calculating and corrupt boss at the network.Protecting human life, human expression, human freedom, and the truth is a theme which runs through this film. The consequences of making choices based on these priorities are often not easy, and that is reflected in the outcomes for these characters. The wild horses of this film are a metaphor for human freedom, and what must be done to insure their freedom, an example of hard but worthwhile sacrifice.

An idealist movie as there ever was, "caballos salvajes" (Wild horses), truly captures an specific feeling in argentinian cinema.Similar in spirit to the movies of Adolfo Aristaráin, it is the story about an old suicidal anarchist (Hector Alterio) who recovers his soul, and yes, it is a very soulful movie. Not a movie made to win festivals or to make well deserved cash, Caballos Salvajes is political at times, but also poignant and inspiring, nonetheless it's a road movie, with trepidant action and a heart of gold.A life affirming flick for anyone who feels a little lost (although not a septuagenarian myself, I can relate), but also a great portrait of Argentina in the 1990s. A must see, anyway.