The American Dream in Nine Queens

I am currently taking a Hispanic Cinema class. In this class, we watch one movie every week from different Spanish-speaking countries that reflect different social or political issues. This past week, I had to watch a movie from Argentina called Nueve Reinas or Nine Queens. This movie takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, known for its economic corruption and crime-filled streets. The two main characters, Marcos and Juan, meet when Marcos catches Juan trying to pull off a bill-changing scam on a cashier in a gas station. After meeting and realizing they both lived the same kind of life- that of crime- they quickly became partners. Later, Marcos and Juan find a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when a con man recruits them to sell a forged, extremely rare set of stamps, or “The Nine Queens.” 

Even though this movie does not take place in the United States, when I watched the movie, I could not help but think of Lupsha’s writing on organized crime in America, especially when Marcos tells Juan that he is able to make the money that he has because “I saw an opportunity and I grabbed it” (Bielinsky, Nueve Reinas). When Marcos said this, I immediately thought of the line from Lupsha’s writing, “I seen my opportunities, and I took ‘em!” (Lupsha 146). So, while Marcos is seen throughout the movie tricking an old lady into giving him money, stealing from a restaurant, paying off a stamp inspector, paying off a police officer, using his sister as a form of payment, etc., Marcos has no feelings of guilt whatsoever as he quickly works his way up to becoming a millionaire and making a name for himself. As a result, I immediately saw the connection between Marcos and those rich and powerful in America who will take whatever actions necessary, even if illegal, to become wealthy.

Lupsha, Peter A. “American Values and Organized Crime: Suckers and Wiseguys.” American Social Character, 2019.  

Nueve Reinas. DVD. Argentina: FX Sound, 2000.