Fernando Ayala, in his first films, established himself as a director who brought to the screen topics which had previously been taboo in Argentine cinema. The Boss-co-produced by Ayala and Héctor Olivera and with an original script by socialist writer David Viñas-is an allegory of authoritarianism and demagogy in Argentine politics filmed three years after Perón's downfall. "El Jefe describes the rise and fall of a suburban bully who rules his gang with brutal insight, filling gaps in the lives of aimless young men who later can't evade his clutches. He is just climbing to the upper reaches of gangsterism, with the help of a girl who hopes to exploit his success, when he commits a stupid murder. He tries to pin the responsibility upon one of his most loyal followers, who is incapable of defending himself, but is finally revealed as a coward." (National Film Theatre, London)