Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is the location of the prison where Molina and Valentin are staying.

Prison

Molina and Valentin are incarcerated for their crimes; they share a prison cell for the entirety of their relationship.

Films

Molina tells Valentin the plots of five films he remembers to pass the long hours they have to spend in prison.

Groceries

The warden gives Molina groceries so he can pretend to Valentin that he has been visited by his mother, who would bring him provisions. In this way, they are a sign of Molina’s treachery, but he shares everything with Valentin, making them also a representation of his kind and caring nature.

Books

Valentin has a large number of books focusing on political philosophy, which he studies a great deal in the beginning of the novel. As he becomes more entranced with Molina’s stories, however, the time...