The main character of Guillermo del Toro’s **Cronos (1992)** is **Jesús Gris**, an elderly, kind-hearted antiques dealer played by Argentine actor **Federico Luppi**.
Jesús Gris is the moral center of the film. His journey is a reimagining of the vampire myth, where immortality is not a romantic gift but a parasitic addiction. His character is deeply rooted in themes of family, religious symbolism (his name translates to "Grey Jesus"), and the struggle between his humanity and the monstrous hunger triggered by the Cronos device.
### Most Memorable Lines and Their Significance
While the film is famous for being visually atmospheric and having a nearly silent supporting character (his granddaughter Aurora), Jesús Gris has several poignant lines that define his arc:
#### 1. "I am Jesús Gris."
* **Context:** This is arguably the most famous line from the character. He repeats it—sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a declaration—after he has been "killed" and resurrected.
* **Significance:** It serves as a desperate reclamation of his soul. As his body decays and his skin turns marble-white and brittle, he uses his name as an anchor to prevent himself from becoming a mere beast or the monster that the antagonist, Dieter de la Guardia, wants him to be.
#### 2. "He thinks it will help him live longer."
* **Context:** Jesús says this in reference to the villain, Dieter de la Guardia, who is obsessed with obtaining the Cronos device to escape his own terminal illness.
* **Significance:** This line highlights the contrast between the two men. While Dieter wants the device out of a fearful, selfish greed for time, Jesús uses it initially by accident and later out of a tragic, addictive need. It underscores the film's theme that the pursuit of eternal life is a hollow, destructive endeavor.
#### 3. "Our Father, who art in heaven..." (The Lord’s Prayer)
* **Context:** In a chilling and ironic scene, Jesús recites the *Padre Nuestro* (The Lord's Prayer) while the Cronos device is physically latched onto him, drinking his blood and injecting him with the alchemist’s solution.
* **Significance:** This is a hallmark of Del Toro’s style—blending Catholic ritual with body horror. It shows Jesús trying to sanctify a profane act, clinging to his faith even as he is transformed into a "vampire" (a creature traditionally at odds with the church).
#### 4. "I'm fine, honey. I'm all right."
* **Context:** He says variations of this throughout the film to his wife, Mercedes, and his granddaughter, Aurora.
* **Significance:** These lines represent the "mask" of the addict. As Jesús's body begins to peel and he develops a repulsive thirst for blood (culminating in the famous scene where he licks blood off a bathroom floor), he continues to reassure his family. It emphasizes his desire to protect them from the horrific reality of his transformation.
#### 5. "Aurora, my God... Are you scared? ... will happen to me?"
* **Context:** Spoken during the climax when Jesús realizes he is losing control and is tempted to feed on his own granddaughter.
* **Significance:** This dialogue leads to the film's ultimate emotional beat. His love for Aurora is what finally gives him the strength to destroy the device, choosing a natural death over an eternal, predatory life.
### Character Detail Summary
* **Appearance:** He begins as a warm, moustachioed grandfather. After using the device, he becomes youthful (shaving his moustache and regrowing hair), but eventually transforms into a "living mummy" with translucent, marble-like skin that must be peeled away to reveal the raw "angelic" white underneath.
* **Ultimate Fate:** Unlike traditional horror protagonists who seek to live, Jesús Gris's final heroic act is choosing to die, reasserting his humanity through mortality.