Synopsis

A remote beach house in a country transitioning from dictatorship to democracy, where past traumas collide with present hopes for justice

Paulina Salas, a former political prisoner, is confronted with her past when Dr. Roberto Miranda, a stranger who helped her husband Gerardo with car trouble, visits their home. Convinced that Roberto is the man who tortured and raped her during her captivity, Paulina takes him hostage, demanding a confession. Gerardo, newly appointed to a human rights commission, finds himself caught between his wife’s quest for personal justice and his professional commitment to due process.

Dorfman’s intense psychological thriller explores the aftermath of political violence and the complex nature of justice and reconciliation. Through the taut interactions between its three characters, the play delves into themes of trauma, memory, and the lingering effects of authoritarianism. The ambiguity surrounding Roberto’s guilt and Paulina’s actions forces the audience to confront difficult questions about morality and healing in post-dictatorship societies.