This tragicomic story of Claudio, a provincial lawyer, never directly mentions the military dictatorship in Argentina, but the stylized period atmosphere of 1970s thrillers and the metaphoric visit to a magic performance hint at a dark episode in the country’s history when thousands of people disappeared without a trace. The title (“red”) may be a reference to the blood spilled during the military junta’s reign of terror or to the ideological inclinations of a character who appears in the film only briefly. In addition to the ironic humor, the masterly direction, and the superb performances, the rising tension between a seemingly irreproachable middle-class household and a pugnacious detective helped earn the film several festival awards.