The Delinquents: 3 Years in Prison for Money and Freedom After, Would You?

Morán and his anagram Román, a pair of bank employees, hit a crossroads in life where they start questioning the monotony of their daily grind. Morán's unconventional solution? Crime. After swiping $650,000 in cash from the bank vault – a cool double of his 25-year salary combined – he entrusts Román to keep it on the down-low and hide the money, promising an even split. Morán willingly surrenders, expecting a three-and-a-half-year prison stint, with plans to share the loot upon release. Cue significant life changes.

Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, "The Delinquents" might not be the talk of the town, but it's a standout in my top ten films this year and a heavyweight in Latin American cinema. Critics applaud its departure from the typical crime genre and its captivating storytelling, reminiscent of Argentina's El Pampero Cine (a rebellious film collective shunning funding from the National Film Institute (INCAA) for autonomy). Yet, what truly hits home is its precise portrayal of the office worker's weariness – a global sentiment.

As per David Graeber, the mind behind "Bullshit Jobs: A Theory," modern work introduces a paradox. On one hand, people believe work gives life meaning, linking dignity to jobs. Losing a job can be a huge psychological blow. On the other hand, many hate their jobs, viewing daily busyness as a torment, though work is a survival necessity. Today, the balance tips as more see work as just work – tedious and meaningless. Life is more. In other words, life (or freedom) and work are opposing forces, held together by money.

This is where Morán and Román's conundrum comes into play, mirroring the dilemma many of us face. Spend three years in jail or toil for thirty for a shot at lifelong freedom? Morán opts for jail, viewing work as imprisonment. Going to jail and retiring early seems cost-effective, and astonishing as well. In the past, robbing a bank for such a reason would be unthinkable. Today, it sounds all too reasonable. But do we all have the courage? Most would prefer Román's path, working normally on the surface while transfering the illegal windfall secretly.

For three and a half years, Román awaits Morán's release to split $650,000. In the end, however, Morán rides into the countryside on a white horse, where money means little. At this juncture, the lives of Morán and Román turn into a stark juxtaposition. One endures three and a half years in hopeful captivity, while the other nervously persists in a bank job, perhaps still for another two decades. One opts for a rustic life with a newfound partner post-prison, while the other sticks to the job, sharing a life with a partner sans passion – all that matter for him is just a hefty bank balance that makes existence more cushy. Evidently, Morán is no longer tethered to money, while Román, despite a windfall exceeding $300,000, remains ensnared by the shackles of money and work.

That’s when it hits me – the heart of the work paradox lies in people inseparably linking life (freedom) and work (money), believing they must complement each other. Morán, however, shows an alternative.

"The Delinquents" revolves around $650,000 and sharply addresses the most pressing question for today's office warriors – how to break free from the societal system and attain genuine freedom. However, the film's proposed approach sparks contemplation – starting with money (robbing a bank), yet ultimately rendering money inconsequential. Without money, a free life is still possible; it's merely a matter of understanding and courage. Without them, even a lottery windfall wouldn't liberate us from the prison of life. With them, even without choosing a primitive life, we can avoid becoming prisoners of work.