A man on the run from outlaws finds himself consoling a troubled priest in this broad comedy. Rufus (Javier Manrique) is deep in debt to a Cuban gangster named Ortega (Idefonso Tamayo), who has an uncertain temper and is tired of waiting to be repaid. Rufus decides that it's time to dip into his hidden reserve of money that he's hidden in a tree in the desert, so heads to Almeria to get it. However, when he arrives, Rufus discovers that his tree already has a visitor -- a depressed priest (Alfredo Landa) who is convinced that his wicked life has left him beyond redemption. The cleric is intent upon committing suicide by hanging himself from the tree, while Rufus has to persuade him that life is worth living at least long enough to get his money. El Arbol del Penitente was the first feature film from director Jose Maria Borell.
by Mark Deming
synopsis
