Mi mejor enemigo

Mi Mejor Enemigo (2005)

Set way in the south of Chile (which goes very far south) about a confrontation between Argentina and Chile (talk about a long border to worry about), this group of Chilean soldiers stumbles and bumbles along in the open barren landscape, discovering themselves. One blurb calls it a comedy, which it isn't really, not for American sensibilities, but it is often very funny, and almost always easy going. But it isn't a "war movie" either. There's almost no "action" in war terms. In fact, the real action is the figures against the grassy openness of the land, the pampas, helping prove at least once that war is often silly at best. Especially over a couple of islands.

I'm not really sure most viewers will get fully into this movie, which is too bad. It's slow, or subtle, or both. The slow part is necessary, though the unspectacular filming style and the decision to extend many short scenes longer than might be necessary make it a little sleepy. The subtle part is notable, and there are some convincing, low key performances. And no heroes, not in the usual sense. And there are a lot of reasonable attempts to avoid starting a real war, including some funny comparable scenes from the Argentine side, and some developments you'll have to wait and see. Including a perro (a dog) that makes trips back and forth between the two sides. Not that any of them, including the dog, has any idea where the border actually is.

It's charming, and has a charming innocence to it, which makes it worth something right there. And it is filled with such soft-spoken humor it slowly sucks you in. Even the charged ending is filled with tenderness, and a humility which makes me wish these were my friends. If there is something to carry forward here, it is the humanity steeped into every scene. We don't quite get to know the individuals or their characters deeply, but we come to empathize with them anyway.

A nice surprise, if you can remove distractions and get yourself absorbed.