Sometimes adapting a novel that is non-linear and with multiple characters intertwined is a daunting task, but Benjamin Naishtat (Puan) decided not only to adapt and direct the adaptation of Hernan Ronsino’s pseudo-gangster coming-of-age story focused on a group of four friends at different stages of their lives to mixed results. (The 2009 novel focuses on two of four friends and their connection to a local gangster.) Having its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of TIFF 2026, Glaxo is a riveting movie that sometimes gets lost in its own timelines, but packs emotional performances that captivate and move the audience.
Glaxo really focuses on Flaco (Esteban Bigliardi); Folcada (Marcelo Subiotto), the ex-police officer gangster; his wife, Miranda (Lali Espósito); and Miguelito (Alan Sabbagh); as Flaco and Miguelito are trying to avoid the draft and survive the on-going conflicts in Argentina. Miranda is relatively unhappy in her marriage to Folcada and stays sheerly because of how dangerous of a man he is, the type of character that you avoid at all costs if you want to ensure your own longevity. However, Miranda doesn’t want to live a boring life, so she is constantly trying to find flings and garner the attention of other people despite her husband’s history. In the flashbacks, we see this is where the situation unfolds as Miguelito starts to garner interest in Miranda and vice versa, and the two develop an unhealthy relationship, something Folcado certainly does not approve of and does not want to have occurring. Folcado confides in Miguelito and asks him to find who’s been sleeping with his wife, because he’s convinced it’s someone young. At first, Miguelito refuses, understandably, but when the promise of avoiding military service and a prominent position at Glaxo, the only factory in town, Miguelito does what he thinks he has to — and tells Folcado the man sleeping with his wife is Flaco. Understanding Miguelito and Flaco’s friendship in the earlier years of their lives and Flaco’s time in prison due to the lie that Miguelito told Folcado, ultimately the “current” time frame of the movie’s present day in the ‘80s where Falco is trying to resume his life after prison and move past the trauma that has occurred.
Lali Espósito as Miranda in GLAXO. Photo courtesy of TIFF.
What makes Glaxo a compelling and daring story, aside from the suspense and dastardly tactics, is that it’s a story of survival and self-preservation grounded by some of the best adult performances that leave devastating results. The younger actors do not have that much gravitas to bring their story to life, but when the movie is focusing on the older versions of Miguelito and Flaco, the performances are truly outstanding. As are those of Subiotto (Puan) and Espósito (Puan) in the ‘50s time frame of the movie, delivering terrific performances that help carry the movie throughout. When Subiotto is on screen, he is a dark and overpowering presence that helps captivate the audience and prove how terrifying he is. He could be compared to Tony Soprano, just having a presence with his demeanor and attitude he presents that is haunting and all encapsulating. Juxtaposing the sheer magnitude of terror of Subiotto’s performance is Espósito who plays Miranda as ever-loving, motherly, and seductive, almost like a siren; the warm presence she gives off ensures that we cannot look away and cannot help but be drawn to Miranda. Espósito’s performance is subtle and lovely, welcoming us, the audience, into Miranda’s seductive world. Espósito keeps us trapped in her web by utilizing sly looks and the fluttering of her eyelashes. Lastly, Bigliardi (Society of the Snow) is a tour de force that is electrified in the closing moments of the film. He plays Flaco as quiet and refined, he delivers a performance at the end of the film that is just so haunting and excellent with no emotion, no anger, and that is something nearly impossible to perfect and something that will sit with audiences long after. This trio of performances that juxtapose each other, from being menacing to warm to void of anything other than someone who’s broken and just trying to get from day to day, is what makes Glaxo a powerful watch, making up for the shortcomings in the interweaving story and the less-than-captivating child performances.
While a more tightened screenplay, less time interweaving between timelines, and more time on the current ‘80s period and the aftermath, may have had the movie resonate more, Naishtat’s three leads are what truly captivate the audience. The powerful, suspenseful story littered with betrayal and demonstrations of how our decisions affect others is handled masterfully by this cast to elevate the tragedy that is bestowed upon their characters.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2026.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival Glaxo webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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