Bosque (1993)
It is a dystopian “near‑future” world where all plants have died, human food is synthesized artificially, and people seek escape through illegal virtual reality programs.
Government investigator Agente Acre (Kropa) is summoned to a meeting with his handler, Gil Ferreo (Hutchcroft), who assigns Acre to assassinate Sra. Verde (Riepe), a dangerous criminal.
Acre protests, having never before been given a mission to kill a target, but Ferreo dismisses him, insisting he carry out the order with no questions asked.
When Acre visits Sr. Olmo (Brau) to collect a device to administer a lethal poison, he starts asking questions of the old man, who indulges Acre in talk of forbidden subjects.
But Acre has not realized he is being watched.
English subtitles are available in the Vimeo
player via the “closed captioning” control.
Full Cast and Crew
- Directed by
- Story by
- Screenplay by
- Song “Bruce Spoke” by
Cast
- Andy Kropa
- Agente Acre
- Anthony Brau
- Sr. Olmo
- Kate Riepe
- Sra. Verde
- Ryan Hutchcroft
- Gil Ferreo
- Pepe Luepe
- himself
- Erin File
- secretary
- Felix Bohlen
- butler
- Kim Kremer
- novia
- Anthony Brau
- Sr. Duro
- Andy Kropa
- Sr. Duro (uncredited)
- Bob Quayle
- elevator guy
- Eric Burnham
- elevator guy
- Ted Stayton
- elevator guy
- Mateo Salazar
- toothbrusher
- Lucas Salazar
- toothbrusher
- Bill Reynolds
- toothbrusher
- God
- himself
- Mateo Salazar
- God (uncredited)
- Futuristic Props
- Special Make-Up Effects
- God Lighting Effects
- Costuming and Wardrobe
-
- The Cast
- Lighting and Photographic Direction
- 1st Unit Director
- 1st Unit Camera Operator
- 2nd Unit Director
- 2nd Unit Camera Operator
- 3rd Unit Camera Operator
- 4th Unit Camera Operator
- Opening Title Sequence: William Grip
- Camera Operator
- Titles
- Editor
- Spanish Language Consultant
- Creative Consultant
- Video Equipment provided by
-
- Bud Carruthers, AEA #16
- Sandy Hopson, MP Elementary
- First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant
Plot Synopsis
SPOILERS: Synopsis includes important plot points.
Agente Acre, an investigator for the government, enters the lower level of a building where he has been told to meet his handler, Gil Ferreo. On the cramped elevator ride to Ferreo’s floor, two other passengers are having an enthusiastic discussion of photographs of a bloody decapitation.
The receptionist outside Ferreo’s temporary office speaks only French and doesn’t recognize Ferreo’s name, so Acre operates the intercom himself, over the receptionist’s objections.
Ferreo offers Acre a drink and tells him that Agency Directors think he should have more responsibility. Acre asks whether they want him knowing about plants. Ferreo starts to answer, but then asks if Acre can use a shotgun. When Acre answers meekly, Ferreo gives him a mission: Assassinate the wealthy Sra. Verde, whom Ferreo calls a notorious criminal, and carry out the order with no questions asked.
Acre protests, saying he has never been assigned to kill someone and is not ready, but Ferreo gives him a detailed procedure to impersonate a dentist making a house call, and to stealthily administer poison mixed into the toothpaste. Ferreo furnishes Acre with the small bottle of poison, and tells him to see Sr. Olmo at the local union hall for professional tooth brushers.
After Acre departs, Sr. Duro appears in Ferreo’s office from where he had been concealed, and Ferreo instructs him to ensure that Acre does his job.
That evening, Acre and his girlfriend are on a date, ending up at a shady virtual reality parlor. Acre asks to be shown program Numero Nueve, which the proprietor warns him is banned, but agrees to play. Numero Nueve simulates a walk through dense woods, and is powerfully compelling to the senses, tolerable for no more than five minutes.
The following day, Acre meets the elderly Sr. Olmo, who gives Acre a tooth brusher’s uniform and teaches Acre how to prepare toothpaste. Acre asks Olmo if he remembers when trees existed. Olmo answers that yes, he remembers, and that furthermore some plants still exist, even as the government seeks to suppress that knowledge.
At the home of Sra. Verde, a nervous Acre makes his excuse that Sr. Olmo is ill and sent a substitute. Sra. Verde offers him some fresh‑baked, non‑synthetic fruit cookies. He takes a bite, but feels a reaction due to being unaccustomed to real food. Sra. Verde treats him with kindness and makes small talk as Acre mixes the poison into the toothpaste, becoming all the more anxious about his mission. At last, Acre reveals himself as an impostor, sent by the government to kill Sra. Verde, and asks what is her crime.
Upset that Acre was ready to carry out her execution without knowing the reason, Sra. Verde nonetheless tells him she is guilty of cultivating a forest, connected to her home by underground tunnel, and kept secret from the government for many years. Acre says he does not consider her a criminal, and they both understand that Acre’s life is now imperiled. Sra. Verde offers to help him, recommending that Acre run from the Agency, and to make his escape into the forest. Acre accepts with gratitude and hurries away.
Their conversation was overheard by another impostor at Sra. Verde’s house, Sr. Duro, posing as an electrician. He takes a gun from his toolbox and without a word, expertly shoots Sra. Verde between the eyes.
Acre emerges from the tunnel into the forest, overwhelmed by its flood of sensations, and pursued on foot by Sr. Duro. After a long chase, Acre is unable to keep running, and falls into a ravine. He beholds a vision in the sky— a man’s face with a white beard, looking down intently at Acre.
The vision disappears, and Sr. Duro pierces Acre’s brain with a bullet.