Aahana Swrup
‘A Widow’s Game’ is a thrilling crime film that takes the viewers along for a police investigation into the fascinating inner workings of a conniving widow’s life. After Arturo Ferrer’s body is discovered in the aftermath of a gruesome murder, his grieving wife, Maria Jesus Moreno, better known as Maje, remains on the police’s radar. Although her palpable grief and firm alibi keep her in the safe zone at first, that quickly changes once lead investigator Eva Torres discovers the truth about the woman’s multiple affairs.
As a result, soon enough, Maje becomes the center of the case, especially after the cops gain access to her suspicious calls with a co-worker, Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, who seems prepared to do anything for his clandestine lover. Since the Netflix film is based on the real-life murder case of Antonio Navarro, numerous characters within the on-screen story find a direct basis in the off-screen criminal case. However, does the same apply to Eva Torres? SPOILERS AHEAD!
Eva Torres is Partly Based on Esther Maldonado Marin
For the most part, ‘A Widow’s Game’ remains intentional in its dramatized recreation of the real-life The Black Widow of Patraix case. The film maintains a close connection to the story of Antonio Navarro, who died on August 16, 2017. The on-screen narrative even retains the real names of individuals like the victim’s wife, Maria Jesus Moreno, and her lover, Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, who were ultimately charged and convicted for his murder. However, at the same time, the Carlos Sedes directorial also possesses some degree of separation from the real-life crime, maintaining a non-biographical distance from reality. Therefore, individuals like Navarro, Maje’s other lovers, and various family members are christened with fake names and a layer of fictionalization.
The character of Eva Torres is another example of this process. In the film, she’s an officer from Valencia’s Homicide Unit and the lead investigator on Arturo’s case. She’s the first one to interview related individuals and the first one who suspects the victim’s widow, Maje, to be the real mastermind behind the plan. In real life, this same role was fulfilled by Esther Maldonado Marin. In 2017, Maldonado was leading the investigation into Navarro’s murder as the head of the Valencia Homicide Group. She first became suspicious of the real Maria Jesus Moreno after a conversation with the latter’s friend, Rocío, revealed information about her multiple extramarital affairs.
Consequently, much of the credit for the investigation’s progression and the killers’ arrest goes to the officer. Therefore, even though Eva’s character isn’t a biographical counterpart for Maldonado, a connective link persists between the two. It’s highly likely that the on-screen character was modelled, at least in part, after the real-life Homicide Group Head. Through Eva’s narrative, the film highlights the real-life work of the officers, including Maldonado, who were involved in the Black Widow of Patraix case. Thus, her storyline, though not a direct parallel to reality, remains a realistic reflection of it.
Esther Maldonado Marin Leads a Fairly Private Life
Esther Maldonado Marin, the head of Valencia’s Homicide Group, seems to prefer a life outside of the public and the media limelight. This is consistently common for law enforcement officers, whose profession demands a certain level of anonymity and obscurity. Even so, as far as one can tell, it seems like the officer of the law continues to work in Valencia. In the film, Eva’s character is shown to leave the Homicide Unit and take a demotion, returning to her patrolling duties. Nonetheless, whether or not the same is true for Maldonado remains uncertain. Either way, the officer likely continues to fight the good fight as a law enforcement agent.
Read More: A Widow’s Game: True Story of Maje and Salva, Explained
