Exceptional, if exceptionally depressing cross-section of Puerto Rican Lower-Depths, told thru multiple stories put together like an interlocked wooden puzzle to form an ensemble portrait of have-not society. Puerto Rican born writer/director Angel Manuel Soto, whose fast rise took a hit after the poorly received BLUE BEETLE/’23 (not seen here)*, proves just the guy to handle the mobile structure and difficult subject matter. A barren hospital midwife, working intensive natal care, takes desperate action to ‘save’ an infant for herself. A promising young boxer and his elderly trainer, picking up small change in the same ring used for lucrative cockfights. The boy encouraged to bring the same cutthroat tactics to his fights as the killer roosters. Highschoolers negotiating sex-for-drugs meet-ups, while the cool kids flirt, gossip, put out for the physically attractive and mete out rough justice for those trying to break in to their cliques. The unlikely sympathetic loner, a bullied fat kid (‘Piggy’) who spies on his sister having sex, steals the camera the boyfriend used to photograph them in action, reads books (!), and swallows condoms of drugs to cart past police check points as a bike riding ‘mule.’ Pretty much everyone dancing to the tune of the aging, but ruthless smalltime neighborhood crime boss. Soto’s direction, plainspoken, but not without style, perfect for his purpose; emotionally gripping yet letting action speak for itself. A film natural.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: We’re not so far from Luis Buñuel’s early Mexican post-Neo-Realist masterpiece LOS OLVIDADOS/’50. Just don’t go looking for any surrealism, https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/03/los-olvidados-aka-forgotten-ones-young.html
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Soto apparently back in good graces with the just released/well reviewed buddy/buddy action comedy THE WRECKING CREW/’26. (not seen here)
No comments:
Post a Comment