DVD Review - Machuca
This wonderful little gem of a film comes by way of Chile. Director Andres Wood depicts the time right before Augustin Pinochet and his henchmen toppled the shaky but democratically elected government of Salvador Allende (and it does help to know what was going in Chile at that time - it helps you understand what was going on in the film).
The film takes place in 1973. And Wood captures the restless mood very well. But the film is also very much about the unlikely friendship between two boys. Gonzalo Infante (Matias Quer) lives in a nice house in a good neighborhood. He is very well take care of. But he is not happy. His mother is having a long time affair with an Argentinean businessman. His mother and father are always fighting. And his life in general seems empty.
But things begin to change when Father McEnroe (Ernesto Malbran) takes some underprivileged children into St. Patrick's School. The well to do kids are resentful and start fights. One of the poor students is Pedro Machuca (Ariel Mateluna). He lives in shanty town and has a drunk for a father.
After a rough start he and Gonzalo develop a bond. They visit each other's houses and can't believe how the other one lives (sadly, Pedro's home is pretty revolting). Also figuring into the story is Pedro's free spirited cousin Sylvana (Manuela Martelli). She introduces both boys to the fine art of kissing.
Woods does a terrific job of showing a country filled with unrest and the differences in social class (American films rarely do that although there is a class system here - something that the most of the politicians try to deny). All of the acting is terrific with the two boys being particularly outstanding.
Will the boys' friendship survive all of these changes? That is something you will have to find out for yourself. But Machuca once again reminds me of another reason for being upset with this country - the coupe was orchestrated by the United States. In any case I urge you to rent this sad and important film.
The film takes place in 1973. And Wood captures the restless mood very well. But the film is also very much about the unlikely friendship between two boys. Gonzalo Infante (Matias Quer) lives in a nice house in a good neighborhood. He is very well take care of. But he is not happy. His mother is having a long time affair with an Argentinean businessman. His mother and father are always fighting. And his life in general seems empty.
But things begin to change when Father McEnroe (Ernesto Malbran) takes some underprivileged children into St. Patrick's School. The well to do kids are resentful and start fights. One of the poor students is Pedro Machuca (Ariel Mateluna). He lives in shanty town and has a drunk for a father.
After a rough start he and Gonzalo develop a bond. They visit each other's houses and can't believe how the other one lives (sadly, Pedro's home is pretty revolting). Also figuring into the story is Pedro's free spirited cousin Sylvana (Manuela Martelli). She introduces both boys to the fine art of kissing.
Woods does a terrific job of showing a country filled with unrest and the differences in social class (American films rarely do that although there is a class system here - something that the most of the politicians try to deny). All of the acting is terrific with the two boys being particularly outstanding.
Will the boys' friendship survive all of these changes? That is something you will have to find out for yourself. But Machuca once again reminds me of another reason for being upset with this country - the coupe was orchestrated by the United States. In any case I urge you to rent this sad and important film.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:57 PM
1 Comments:
I saw Machuca last night and agree fully with everything you said about it. It shows the conditions and is like a history and/or political science lesson about Chile.
The ending took me by surprise.
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