El premio

Although not identified, this movie takes place during the Dirty War, 1976-1983, the period of United States-backed state terrorism in Argentina as a part of Operation Condor. During this operation military and security forces and right-wing death squads in the form of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance hunted down any political dissidents and anyone believed to be associated with socialism, left-wing Peronism or the Montoneros movement.

Between 9,000 and 30,000 people were killed or disappeared, of whom many were impossible to formally report due to the nature of state terrorism. Operation Condor targeted included students, militants, trade unionists, writers, journalists, artists and any citizens suspected to be left-wing activists, including Peronist guerrillas. The disappeared included those thought to be politically or ideologically a threat to the junta even vaguely, or speaking contrary to the neoliberal economic policies (Current Capitalist-Globalization Initiative).

Movie resonates with current political climate in USA with armed "volunteers" roaming the Tex-Mex border and Proud Boys grooming to be death-squads. The use of the word socialism in the Neo-Trump narrative is a echo of the groupspeak in Argentina at the time. Free on Tubi at the moment winter 2021. terry whiting "

San Clemente del Tuyú, 300 km from Buenos Aires in the Atlantic coast of Argentina is a summer beach resort. As the movie opens we see seven year old Cecilia (Ceci) strolling along a deserted beach, trying unsuccessfully to roller skate on the sand. It is winter, skies are clouded, cold is intense and rain frequent. Ceci is living in precarious conditions with her mother Lucía in a one room beach cabin not designed for winter occupancy and we learn that they are hiding from the military regime, with Ceci's father disappeared and probably the entire family in the military's hit list.

With Lucía's wary approval, Ceci attends the local elementary school. She is is placed in second grade and is well received by the other children. Ceci is a bright kid and excels in her schoolwork, supported by Señora Rosita, a stern but supportive teacher. One day, military personnel visit the school and call for participation of the children in a contest where they will submit an essay on the Fatherland and its defenders, the military. Ceci's teacher has high hopes in her chances and Ceci has a hard time conciliating the prize with her father's fate.

This film rests on two pillars. On is an exceptionally good script by director Paula Markovitch, with an uncannily accurate insight on the mind of a seven year old. The other is the way Paula Galinelli Hertzog brings Ceci to life. She hits all the right notes and shows emotions in subtle nonverbal ways (this was her first credit as an actress). Excellent work by the other members of the cast. Markovitch tells the tale in a deliberate, way, and some scenes are perhaps too extended. Cinematography by Wojciech Staron does justice to the austere interiors and melancholic landscapes. Coincidentally, another movie on the children of militants was released the same year (Benjamín Ávila's Clandestine Childhood) based, as this one, in the directors' childhood experiences but the view the subject is different.

The director has stated that she based this on her own childhood, which even if she didn't have said, was something you could've guessed by watching this movie. While the movie has a lot of metaphors (even too many as the previous reviewer has stated), the story in itself is very intriguing. Even more so, because it is told from the child's point of view!

The film showed as official part of the Internation Festival in Berlin. And while you might find it tries too much or too hard, it's still better than not trying at all. The drama that comes through simple things (and the repression resulting) is stunning. And if you think about the fact, that some of this might still be going on in some countries ...

Literally blurred and unfocused personal childhood drama with barely defined characters, repetitive and redundant imagery that strives for poetry without achieving any, a rather thin and forced, though potentially interesting narrative and a strongly unwelcome naivety regarding the serious political circumstances the pic's set in. (Though from a child's point of view, the last point may make sense.)

That said, the child actors are great.

A movie you'd like to like more than you do.

I doubt this pic may be awarded any "premio", but the plot might have served as the basis for a solid short.

5 out of 10 sandy roller-skates