Barrio

Decent drama/comedy/melodrama about three 15 year old best friends growing up in Madrid's Barrio. Well intended, never boring, but not quite enough of anything.

Not gritty or real enough to work as neo-realism -- it's hard to believe 15 year old street boys are as naive as these characters about sex and life itself – they sometimes come off like they should be pre-teens, or part of the far more protected classes.

The acting is solid, and the banter between the kids has a real, often funny feel, but that's not enough to transcend. And the number of convenient melodramatic twists finally overloads the last third, and makes it hard to be really moved.

Well shot and intelligent, I just wish it was deeper, or funnier, or something. Grew a bit on 2nd viewing, but not enough to own a copy for me.