Film & TV

Latino Film Festival Review: The Kid (El Gurí)

Ten year old Gonzalo is forced to look after his great-grandmother and baby sister when his mother leaves, but he doesn’t realise she’s not coming back.

Nominated for the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival – Crystal Bear, (Best Film) Generation 14+ award, this Argentinian drama is laidback look at a not-so-laidback topic.

Ten year old Gonzalo lives in a quiet country town, caring for his great-grandmother and baby sister. His father is unknown and his mother has recently gone, leaving him in charge. While Gonzalo passes that days waiting for his mother’s return, the villagers watch over him, knowing that she won’t.

Into their mundane existence where nothing much happens, comes Lorena, who is forced to stay a few days while her car is repaired. Gonzalo and Lorena form a bond, with the latter knowing she too can’t stay for him.

As the central character, Maximiliano García is a young actor with a lot of talent. While the script isn’t too emotionally charged or demanding, he manages to exude an underlying pathos, even when playing with this friends. It’s a beautiful performance that stands up to the more experienced co-stars that include Sofía Gala, Daniel Aráoz, Susana Hornos, and Federico Luppi.

This isn’t a film that’s going to appeal to a vast majority of cinema goers. The pace is glacial, the mood is sombre and the ending, as expected, isn’t happy. Far from being a depressing flick however, The Kid teaches us that life goes on and, those who enjoy slow arthouse films are sure to find this one satisfying.

Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet

Rating out of 10:  7

The Kid (El Gurí) will screen on 19 August 2016 only, as part of Cine Latino: Latin American Film Festival, running 11 – 24 August 2016 exclusively at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.

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