La boca del lobo

Two weeks away from the front lines, a paramilitary unit descends on a secluded Andean village called Chuspi, cut off from help by a violent insurgent group known as Sendero Luminoso. A young recruit named Vitin Luna, along with his fellow soldiers, finds themselves trapped between orders and the risk to civilians. The unit is led by a hard edged lieutenant who treats the village as guilty until proven innocent and refuses to listen to doubt. As the tight circle tightens, Vitin must decide whether to follow commands that threaten civilians or listen to his own conscience and break the chain of command. The film uses close quarters and the harsh light of a makeshift base to mirror the moral claustrophobia.

Directed by Francisco J Lombardi, La boca del lobo premiered in 1988 as a stark Peruvian drama. It stems from a collaborative screenplay by Gonzalo Herrero, Augusto Cabada, and Giovanna Pollarolo, with Lombardi shaping its tense and austere tone throughout.

Box office data for La boca del lobo is not widely reported, a common fate for non mainstream Peruvian films of the era. The film largely circulated within festivals and regional theaters rather than broad commercial releases at the time.

Even though it is not widely known outside Peru, the film stands out for its unflinching look at command authority and the civilian toll of counter insurgency. It contributed to discussions about ethics in war and the limits of obedience, leaving a quiet influence on later Peruvian cinema within history.

Critics have highlighted its spare production and sharp focus on moral choices under pressure. The tension between duty and humanity remains a core theme, making La boca del lobo a compact study of how ordinary soldiers react when orders clash with conscience, authority, and the possibilities of dissent in practice.