Heart of the Wolf (Spanish: El corazón del lobo) is a 2025 Peruvian war drama film directed by Francisco J. Lombardi from a screenplay he co-wrote with Augusto Cabada. Based on the novel El miedo del lobo by Carlos Enrique Freyre, which is itself based on a true story. It stars Víctor Acurio and Jared Vicente Sánchez, accompanied by Silvana Díaz Goicochea, Paul Ramírez, and Martín Martínez.
Synopsis Aquiles, an Asháninka boy kidnapped by the Shining Path, undergoes a transformation from victim to combatant before attempting to escape the terrorist organization.
Cast
as Aquiles Jared Vicente Sánchez as Aquiles (Kid) Silvana Goycochea as Camarada Lucía Paul Ramírez as Rogelio Martín Martínez as Roque José Fernández as Juan Garcia Alberick García as Álvarez Martín Velásquez Marvelat as Camarada José Aníbal Lozano Herrera as Camarada William
Production Francisco J. Lombardi, who had already addressed the subject of Shining Path terrorism from the military's perspective in The Mouth of the Wolf, felt compelled to create another feature exploring the organization's internal dynamics. While developing the screenplay, Lombardi incorporated elements he had already been working on regarding the topic, he and Cabada also had to interview former members of the group, including one who had been a leader within the organization.
In September 2023, the project under the working title El corazón del monstruo (The Heart of the Monster) was awarded a grant of S/.800,000 by the Dirección del Audiovisual, la Fonografía y los Nuevos Medios (DAFO) of the Ministry of Culture.
Principal photography took place between October and November 2024, at locations in Tarapoto and Pariamarca, Canta. Real army weaponry was used for the filming.
Release The film premiered worldwide on August 9, 2025, at the 29th Lima Film Festival, then screened in early November 2025 at the 40th Mar del Plata International Film Festival, and on March 12, 2026, at the 29th Málaga Film Festival.
It was commercially released on October 2, 2025, in Peruvian theaters.
Box office In its opening weekend, the film drew 23,000 viewers. Entering its fourth week of release, the movie had reached an audience of 77,000, and concluded its run with 85,000 viewers.
Accolades Award / FestivalDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultMar del Plata International Film Festival16 November 2025Best Latin American FilmHeart of the Wolf Málaga Film Festival15 March 2026
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