Wild Horses 1995

Comedy

Drama

Crime

Runtime

122 mins

Language

Spanish

Directed by

Marcelo Piñeyro

Made by

Artear

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Wild Horses Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Wild Horses (1995). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Héctor Alterio stars as José, an aging anarchist who decides to get even with the bank corporation that stole $15,344 from his family eighteen years earlier. He plans a defiant move, but when confronted by the yuppie manager, Leonardo Sbaraglia as Pedro Mendoza, José threatens to kill himself and demands that the money be handed over. In the ensuing chaos, Pedro stumbles upon a drawer holding half a million dollars and stuffs it into a bag. He then asks José to take him hostage so the police won’t shoot them, and the two men manage to drive away with the cash.

After the robbery, Pedro discovers the funds are laundered money that Pedro’s boss Rodolfo has kept for the mafia with bank knowledge, which would put him in trouble with both groups if he turns himself in. After learning this, Pedro joins José on a road trip to Patagonia as they flee from police and hired thugs. On the road they bond and decide to challenge the false claims made by the media about them, taping a message and sending it to the TV. They become the subject of press coverage as modern-day Robin Hoods, nicknamed Los Indomables by the public.

The duo decide to take a bus that will bring them closer to the border with Chile, and aboard they meet Ana, Cecilia Dopazo, a punk girl who initially steals the bag containing the half-million but returns it when they catch up. They decide to let her into their circle, and she even helps by stealing a jeep for them. The three soon devise a plan to “return” the money to the people by creating a mock-up bomb that blows up a briefcase containing the half-million, which rains down on a cheering crowd. Keeping only what is necessary for the journey, they set off again.

The group edges toward the border after dodging a pursuing helicopter, aided by gas station attendants who help them dodge roadblocks and two hitmen sent by the mafia, whom they finally overcome after swapping clothes and guns. Along the way they meet Eusebio, Federico Luppi who is married to Natalia, sister of José’s late wife Clara, and they reconcile the past. After this, José reveals his long-hidden past as a horse breeder, explaining he once fought to reclaim the land where his horses live before a meatpacking plant could seize them. He decides not to reclaim the land for himself but to buy all the animals so they can roam wild at the foot of the mountains.

As pursuers close in, José bids farewell to Pedro and Ana, who have fallen in love, and the three ride away on two horses toward the Chilean border. José then frees all of his horses, and as the last one is sent free, he is shot in the back offscreen. He dies with a sense of renewal—joy for life and for noble people restored—while his horses run free. A flashback shows José dancing to Tales from the Vienna Woods, celebrating the vitality he has found again.

Wild Horses Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Wild Horses (1995) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

José confronts the bank manager and threats suicide

José, an aging anarchist, confronts the bank's yuppie manager, Pedro Mendoza, demanding the return of money stolen from his family 18 years earlier. He threatens to kill himself if the manager does not hand over the requested amount. The tense ultimatum launches their plan to seize the cash by force.

Present day Bank lobby

The bank raid yields a half-million stash

In the ensuing chaos, Pedro stumbles upon a drawer containing half a million dollars and stuffs it into a bag. José and Pedro seize the moment, deciding to escape with the loot. This unexpected stash becomes the seed of their road trip.

During the confrontation Bank

Escape plan: take hostage to avoid police

Pedro asks José to take him hostage so the police won’t shoot them, and together they drive away successfully. The hostage dynamic gives them a path to leave the scene with the money intact. Their actions mark the beginning of a long flight.

Immediately after robbery Leaving the bank

Discovery: laundering and flight to Patagonia

After the robbery, Pedro discovers the money is laundered cash kept by his boss for the mafia and with the bank’s knowledge, making turning themselves in dangerous. He chooses to join José on a road trip toward Patagonia to escape both law enforcement and hired thugs. The motive shifts from revenge to survival and justice on their terms.

After robbery On the road toward Patagonia

Bonding and Robin Hood image forming on the road

As they travel, Pedro and José bond over their shared predicament and decide to clear the false media portrayal of them. They tape a message for a TV station and receive support from Patagonian gas station attendants who view them as modern Robin Hoods. The press dubs them 'Los Indomables' as their legend grows.

During road trip Patagonian roads; gas stations

Bus ride brings Ana into the group

On a bus toward the border, they meet Ana, a young punk girl who steals the bag containing the half-million but returns it once she realizes who they are. She is invited into their circle, and she later helps by stealing a jeep for them. The trio becomes a mobile unit on the run.

En route to border Bus to the border

Mock bomb to return money; crowd cheers

The group decides to 'return' the money to the people and devises a mock bomb that blows up a briefcase containing the half-million, raining cash down on a cheering crowd. They keep only what they need for the trip, leaving the rest behind as they continue. The act cements their Robin Hood image in the public eye.

During trip Public space; town

Nearing the border: helicopter chase and escape

Near the border, the Indomables dodge a pursuing helicopter and roadblocks with the aid of Patagonian gas station attendants. They outmaneuver two mafia hitmen by swapping clothes and weapons, stripping them of their pursuers. The pursuit intensifies as they push toward safety.

Approaching the border Patagonian border routes

Reunion with Eusebio; José reveals his past

The group meets Eusebio, Natalia's husband and José's former ally, and José reveals his past as a horse breeder who fought to reclaim his land. He explains his choice not to reclaim property but to free the animals instead. The revelation deepens the trio's bond and stakes in the journey.

Reunion scene With Eusebio; border region

Final ride toward Chile; farewell

José explains that he no longer seeks to own land; instead he will free the horses and let them live wild at the mountains' foothills. Pedro and Ana fall in love as they press on toward safety. They head for the border, leaving their past lives behind.

Final stretch Foot of the mountains; border region

Farewell and crossing into Chile

The trio reaches the border; Pedro and Ana ride away on horses toward Chile while José guides the last escape. They cross into Chile, moving beyond their former identities as pursuers close in. The act marks a dramatic turning point toward an uncertain but freer future.

Ending Border crossing; Chile

José's death and freedom for the horses

José is shot in the back offscreen as he frees the last horse. He dies content, having reclaimed his love for life and for noble people. His horses run free, a symbol of his final act of freedom and renewal.

Ending Foot of the mountains; near the border

Final montage: horses run free and the legend begins

In a closing montage, José's horses run freely while a flashback shows him dancing to Tales from the Vienna Woods, celebrating the exhilaration of being alive. The press cements the two as modern Robin Hoods, solidifying their enduring legend as Los Indomables.

Posthumous montage Patagonian wilderness; memory

Wild Horses Characters

Explore all characters from Wild Horses (1995). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

José (Héctor Alterio)

An aging anarchist who resolves to punish the bank that stole his family’s money, José is principled, impulsive, and willing to take bold risks. He carries a hidden past as a horse breeder and a desire to reclaim the land where his animals live. His alliance with Pedro gradually shifts from necessity to friendship as they flee together and challenge the systems that pursue them.

🗺️ Rebel 🐎 Horse breeder 🧭 Freedom seeker

Pedro Mendoza (Leonardo Sbaraglia)

A young, ambitious yuppie manager who becomes an unlikely partner in the bank robbery escape. He grows from self-preservation to loyalty to José and Ana, and he strives to clear his name while joining the journey toward the border. His bond with the others deepens as they redefine justice outside of official channels.

🧭 Road-tripper 🕴️ City-dweller 🤝 Survivor

Ana (Cecilia Dopazo)

A streetwise punk girl who initially steals the bag but returns it, she then joins the trio and proves resourceful, even stealing a jeep to aid their escape. She forms connections with Pedro and José, integrating into their improvised family on the run.

🗝️ Catalyst 🧭 Street-smart 🧡 Rebel

Eusebio (Federico Luppi)

Married to Natalia, sister of José’s late wife, Eusebio acts as a bridge to José’s past and a stabilizing ally who helps facilitate reconciliation. He embodies quiet loyalty and a willingness to help when the truth surfaces.

🧭 Family ally 🗝️ Wisdom ⚖️ Moral compass

Natalia (Cipe Lincovsky)

Sister of José’s long-dead wife, Natalia is the link to José’s past and the family dimension that grounds his motivations. Her backstory with Eusebio underscores themes of memory, forgiveness, and continuing bonds.

🪢 Family ties 🕊️ Reconciliation 🗝️ Past link

Wild Horses Settings

Learn where and when Wild Horses (1995) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Patagonia, Argentina, Chile-Argentina border

Patagonia, Argentina provides the windswept backdrop for the fugitives’ road escape, with open plains and dramatic skies. Remote gas stations along desolate highways become temporary havens as the couple travels toward the border. The looming Chile-Argentina frontier frames their journey and stands as a symbol of freedom and risk.

🏔️ Patagonian landscapes 🛣️ Remote highways 🚦 Borderlands

Wild Horses Themes

Discover the main themes in Wild Horses (1995). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🕊️

Freedom

From the bank raid to a long road toward freedom, the film centers on a quest to live on one’s own terms rather than under corporate or mob control. José and Pedro redefine what justice means through mercy, solidarity, and choosing their own path. The road and the small acts of kindness from Patagonian gas station attendants emphasize that true freedom can emerge from community. Their escape becomes a chance to live by a code that rejects being pawns of powerful interests.

⚖️

Justice & Media

Media sensationalism shapes public perception, labeling the duo as criminals before their version of events is heard. They tape a message to the TV to tell their side of the story and attempt to clear their names. The nickname Los Indomables reflects how press coverage transforms perception and heightens the chase.

🐎

Horses & Renewal

José’s past as a horse breeder becomes the central symbol of liberation and renewal. His decision to free the horses at the foot of the mountains represents a final gesture of mercy and a dream of reclaiming the land. The imagery of horses running free under Strauss music underscores a yearning for life and dignity beyond persecution.

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Wild Horses Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Wild Horses (1995). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a sun‑baked corner of Argentina, the ordinary rhythm of a small town is shattered when a desperate act throws a bank’s quiet interior into chaos. The film follows that single, fateful moment, using it as a springboard to explore how each split‑second decision can feel both dangerous and oddly liberating. The atmosphere balances the grit of a heist with a wry, almost playful edge, suggesting that even the most serious risks can be tinged with absurdity.

José is an aging idealist whose past is a patchwork of rebellion and loss. Faced with the lingering weight of a decades‑old grievance, he sees the robbery as a chance to settle an old score and to test the limits of his own agency. His demeanor carries the wear of someone who has watched the world shift around him, yet there’s a stubborn spark that refuses to be extinguished. This internal fire colors every interaction, turning the simple act of walking away from a crime scene into a quiet, philosophical reckoning.

Across the counter, Pedro Mendoza embodies the sleek ambition of a modern professional. When the robbery erupts, his quick thinking turns self‑preservation into theatrical deception: he pretends to be a hostage to buy himself a moment of freedom. His polished confidence clashes with the raw desperation of his partner, creating a tension that crackles with both wit and unease. The film teases the audience with the idea that his polished façade may hide deeper motives, inviting us to wonder what freedom truly means for a man accustomed to control.

The unexpected arrival of Ana, a bright‑eyed, rebellious spirit, throws the fledgling duo into an improvised three‑person dance. Her presence injects a fresh current of humor and unpredictability, forcing the pair to renegotiate the fragile balance of trust and survival. As they navigate open roads and shifting landscapes, the trio’s uneasy camaraderie becomes a microcosm of the larger theme: that every choice, however reckless, carries the promise of a new kind of liberty.

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