Penniless Jose Luis marries an executioner’s daughter and is coaxed into ‘inheriting’ his fatherin-law’s lowly profession in order to gain a home. After a year of continued pardons and no executions, he finally receives a real assignment. This black comedy mixes the serious topic of execution with humor. We can’t help but smile bitterly at Jose’s paradox: supporting his family with death. The scene where he is in more pain than the man he is about to execute is truly a great example of mise en scene. (RHEE Souewon)