Life in the Abyss

Set in 1970s Valencia, this drama and thriller follows Ferran, a young man who plays cards to escape his routine. He meets El Chino, a charismatic professional gambler who draws the naive Ferran into illegal money-making schemes. As their relationship evolves, Ferran begins frequenting high-end restaurants and gambling dens, eventually risking everything on a single game. The story later shifts to Madrid, where Ferran distances himself from El Chino. The latter pursues increasingly lethal stakes, earning a living through Russian roulette until the game turns fatal. This narrative is based on real events.

The film was written and directed by Ventura Pons, appearing after his 2000 work To Die (Or Not) and before Strangers and Universal i faraona. The cast features Óscar Jaenada as El Chino, with José Sospedra and Antonio Valero portraying Ferran as a young man and an adult, respectively. Other cast members include Juli Mira, Pep Cortés, and Albert Forner. Released in 2007, the movie has an IMDb rating of 5.3/10 based on 103 votes.