TIFF09: HUACHO

As Diana Sanchez details in her program capsule: “An apt title for the film, huacho means ‘bastard’ or ‘having no father’ but can also mean ‘abandoned.’ ” Chilean director Alejandro Fernández Almendras’ feature debut observes how four members of a southern Chilean peasant family are left behind by a modern way of life that does not include them.

Within the simple structure of a long summer day’s cycle, Almendras’ quasi-documentary tracks its four protagonists through overlapping narrative threads that achieve a threadbare honesty and intimacy. As much a portrait of their struggles to make do on limited means, Huacho skillfully captures the ignobility of work in the modern age. Grandma Clemira makes and sells cheese by the roadside to passing motorists who force her to sell her wares at less than what it costs her to make them. Her husband Cornelio has become too old to work in the fields and suffers for not being able to provide for his family, remembering better days when he could. Cornelio’s memories only annoy the young boy Manuel who longs for the kinds of things that will help him fit in with a clique of well-do-do classmates who ostracize him and call him “peasant.” Manuel’s mother Alejandra is raising him without a father and works as a cook at minimum wage. To get necessary money for the family to pay off its utility bill, she’s forced to pawn off her only nice dress. Sadness and frustration pervade all their lives, with scant relief in sight.

Manuel’s teacher writes on the chalkboard: “One day or another we will all be happy.” But what he’s referencing is death, not opportunity. The film achieves added poignancy for being dedicated to Juan Pablo Rebella who—Sanchez informed me—took his own life, unable to express the pain he felt in everyday life. Huacho holds a gentle mirror up to that desperate pain, reflecting loyalty to family and perseverance against odds, let alone one filmmaker’s homage to another.

As reported earlier on The Evening Class, Huacho received completion funding from the Global Film Initiative. Dave Hudson gathered the Cannes reviews for The Daily @ IFC.

Cross-published on Twitch.

INDEX—Latino, Latin American, & Spanish/Portuguese Cinemas

Argentine Cinema

Aerial, The (La Antena, 2007; Esteban Sapir)—Critical Overview/Review

Dignity of the Nobodies, The (La dignidad de los nadies, 2005; Fernando Solanas)—Festival Capsule

Dignity of the Nobodies, The (La dignidad de los nadies, 2005; Fernando Solanas)—Interview With Fernando Solanas

Dignity of the Nobodies, The (La dignidad de los nadies, 2005; Fernando Solanas)—Review

Latent Argentina (Argentina latente, 2007; Fernando Solanas)—Critical Overview/Review

Liverpool (2008; Lisandro Alonso)—Critical Overview/Review

Northeast (Nordeste, 2005; Juan Diego Solanas)—Festival Capsule

Northeast (Nordeste, 2005; Juan Diego Solanas)—Introductory Remarks by Aymará Rovera and Q&A With Juan Solanas

Paranoids, The (Los Paranoicos, 2008; Gabriel Medina)—Critical Overview/Hold Review

Possible Lives (Las vidas posibles, 2006; Sandra Gugliotta)—Critical Overview

Week Alone, A (Una semana solos, 2007; Celina Murga)—Hold Review (for The Auteurs Notebook)

Window, The (La Ventana, 2008; Carlos Sorín)—Interview with Carlos Sorín

Without Title (Sin Título, 2007; Matt Losada)—Interview with Matt Losada

Stray Girlfriend, A (Una Novia Errante, 2007; Ana Katz)—Critical Overview/Review

Latino/Argentine American Cinema

Cartoneros (2006; Ernesto Livon-Grosman)—Interview With Ernesto Livon-Grosman

Brazilian Cinema

Best of Me, The (Lo mejor de mí, 2007; Roser Aguilar)—Critical Overview

Cinema, Aspirin & Vultures (Cinema, Aspirinas E Urubus, 2005; Marcelo Gomes)—Critical Overview/Review

Cinema, Aspirin & Vultures (Cinema, Aspirinas E Urubus, 2005; Marcelo Gomes)—Interview With Peter Ketnath

City of Men (Cidade dos Homens, 2007; Paulo Morelli)—Critical Overview

Delicate Crime (Crime Delicado, 2005; Beto Brant)—Festival Capsule

Favela Rising (2005; Matt Mochary & Jeff Zimbalist)—Festival Capsule

Germano (2007; Vicente Ferraz)—Capsule

House of Sand, The (Casa de Areia, 2005; Andrucha Waddington)—Festival Capsule

House of Sand, The (Casa de Areia, 2005; Andrucha Waddington)—Interview with Andrucha Waddington

House of Sand, The (Casa de Areia, 2005; Andrucha Waddington)—Q&A with Andrucha Waddington

Lower City (Cidade Baixa, 2005; Sérgio Machado)—Festival Capsule

Lower City (Cidade Baixa, 2005; Sérgio Machado)—Introductory Remarks by Alice Braga

Lower City (Cidade Baixa, 2005; Sérgio Machado)—Interview with Alice Braga

Margarette's Feast (A Festa de Margarette, 2003; Renato Falcão)—Critical Overview/Review

Mutum (2007; Sandra Kogut)—Critical Overview/Review

Not By Chance (Não Por Acaso, 2007; Philippe Barcinksi)—Critical Overview/Review

Underground Game (Jogo Subterrâneo, 2005; Roberto Gervitz)—Festival Capsule

Latino/Brazilian American Cinema

Send A Bullet (Manda Bala)—Sundance Dispatch

Send A Bullet (Manda Bala, 2007; Jason Kohn)—Q&A with Jason Kohn

Latino/Chicano Cinema

Don't Let Me Drown (2008; Cruz Angeles & Maria Topete)—Q&A With Cruz Angeles & Maria Topete

Gómez-Peña, Guillermo—"El Corazón de la Missión"

Lopez, Yolanda—Conversation Between Yolanda Lopez & Amalia Mesa-Bains

Mexican Museum / M.H. deYoung Museum Chicano Films Program: Yo Soy Chicano (1972; Jesús Treviño); Remember Los Siete (work-in-progress; Veronica Majano); Chronicle of a Being (Cronica de un ser, 1990; S.M. Peña); Asco (1994; Juan Garza); Pretty Vacant (1996, Jim Mendiola); Columbus on Trial (1992; Lourdes Portillo); Corn In The Front Yard (2001; Al Lujan); Why Cybraceros? (1998; Alex Rivera); Ozzy Goes to the Alamo (2001; Jim Mendiola and Ruben Ortiz Torres); Lupe & JuanDi from the Block (2003; Fulana Collective); Larry Landia (2005; Karim Scarlata). Curated by Tere Romo.

Missión, La (The Mission, 2008; Peter Bratt)—Q&A with Peter & Benjamin Bratt

Missión, La (The Mission, 2008; Peter Bratt)—Hold Review (for The Auteurs Notebook)

Noriega, Chon—TCM: Latino Images in Film Interview

Oddball Films Chicano Films Program: The Mexican American Speaks: Heritage in Bronze; Latino: A Cultural Conflict; Calle Chula; Two Four; Decision at Delano. Co-curated by Stephen Parr and Jesse Lerner.

Our Father (Padre Nuestro, 2007; Christopher Zalla)—Sundance Dispatch

Al Más Allá (2008; Lourdes Portillo)—On-Stage Conversation With Lourdes Portillo & John Anderson

Quinceañera (2006; Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland)—Interview With Emily Rios & Jesse Garcia

Quinceañera (2006; Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland)—Interview With Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland

Sleep Dealer (2008; Alex Rivera)—Critical Overview/Review

Sleep Dealer (2008; Alex Rivera)—Interview with Alex Rivera (for SF360)

Chilean Cinema

Chilean Cinema SF360 Report by Miljenko Skoknik

In Bed (En La Cama, 2005; Matias Bize)—Festival Capsule

In Bed (En La Cama, 2005; Matias Bize)—Critical Overview/Review

Judge and the General, The (2008; Elizabeth Farnsworth & Patricio Lanfranco)—Critical Overview/Review

La Fuga Spotlight

Lost Domain, The (Le domaine perdu, 2005; Raoul Ruiz)—Festival Capsule

Mirageman (2007; Ernesto Diaz)—Critical Overview/Review

Play (2005; Alicia Scherson)—Festival Capsule

Play (2005; Alicia Scherson)—Critical Overview/Review

Play (2005; Alicia Scherson)—Interview With Alicia Scherson

Santa Fe Street (Calle Santa Fe, 2007; Carmen Castillo)—Critical Overview

Tony Manero (2008; Pablo Larraín)—Interview with Pablo Larraín

Cuban Cinema

Viva Cuba (2005; Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti & Iraida Malberti Cabrera)—Festival Capsule

Latino/Cuban American Cinema

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (2005; Georgina Garcia Riedel)—Interview with Elizabeth Peña

Mexican Cinema

Babel (2006; Alejandro González Iñárritu)—Q&A with Alejandro González Iñárritu

Battle in Heaven (Batalla en el cielo, 2005; Carlos Reygadas)—Q&A with Carlos Reygadas

Broken Sky (El Cielo Dividido, 2006; Julián Hernández)—Review

Charm School (Niñas Mal, 2007; Fernando Sariñana)—Critical Overview

Cochochi (2007; Israel Cárdenas & Laura Amelia Guzmán)—Critical Overview/Review

Covarrubias, Miguel & John Huston: A Friendship

Cumbia Connection (Cumbia Callera, 2007; René U. Villareal)—Critical Overview/Review

Desert Within, The (Disierto Adentro, 2008; Rodrigo Plá)—Sergio de la Mora's Review

Duck Season (Temporada de Patos, 2004; Fernando Eimbcke)—Critical Overview/Review

Figueroa, Gabriel—Overview & Interview with Steve Seid on "Hecho Por Mexico: The Films of Gabriel Figueroa"

2008 Guadalajara International Film Festival Preview by Sergio de la Mora

Hernández, Julián—Profile by Sergio de la Mora

In the Pit (En El Hoyo, 2005; Juan Carlos Rulfo)—Critical Overview/Review

Japón (Japan, 2002; Carlos Reygadas)—Q&A with Carlos Reygadas

Lake Tahoe (2008; Fernando Eimbcke)—Sergio de la Mora's Review

Lake Tahoe (2008; Fernando Eimbcke)—Hold Review Capsule (for The Auteurs Notebook)

Never On A Sunday (Morir$e En Domingo, 2006; Daniel Gruener)—Interview With Daniel Gruener

News From Afar (Noticias lejanas, 2004; Ricardo Benet)—Festival Capsule

Night Buffalo, The (El búfalo de la noche, 2007; Guillermo Arriga)—Interview with Guillermo Arriaga

Only God Knows (Sólo Dios Sabe, 2006; Carlos Bolado)—Festival Capsule

Only God Knows (Sólo Dios Sabe, 2006; Carlos Bolado)—Interview with Carlos Bolado

Only God Knows (Sólo Dios Sabe, 2006; Carlos Bolado)—Interview with Alice Braga

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno, 2006; Guillermo del Toro)—Review

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno, 2006; Guillermo del Toro)—Interview with Guillermo del Toro

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno, 2006; Guillermo del Toro)—Q&A with Guillermo del Toro

Rivera, Diego—Cargador de Flores

Rudo y Cursi (2009; Carlos Cuarón)—Hold Review (for The Auteurs Notebook)

Sergio de la Mora's Top Ten Favorite Mexican Films of 2007

Silent Light (Luz Silenciosa, 2007; Carlos Reygadas)—Critical Overview/Review

Silent Light (Luz Silenciosa, 2007; Carlos Reygadas)—Dim Sum with Carlos Reygadas

Silent Light (Luz Silenciosa, 2007; Carlos Reygadas)—Q&A with Carlos Reygadas

Tribute to Toña la Negra—Capsule

Violin, The (El Violin, 2005; Francisco Vargas)—Interview with Francisco Vargas

Mexican/U.S. Cinema

Cinemachismo—Q&A With Sergio de la Mora

Cinemachismo—Lambda Nomination

Cowboy del Amor (2005; Michèle Ohayon)—Review

Letters From the Other Side (2006; Heather Courtney)—Critical Overview/Review

Romántico (2005; Mark Becker)—Interview with Mark Becker, Pt. One

Romántico (2005; Mark Becker)—Interview with Mark Becker, Pt. Two

Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The (2005; Tommy Lee Jones)—Critical Overview/Review

Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The (2005; Tommy Lee Jones)—Q&A With Guillermo Arriaga

Miscellaneous

Oscars 2007 Hispanic Nominees

Peruvian Cinema

Madeinusa (2006; Claudia Llosa)—Critical Overview/Review

Máncora (2008;Ricardo de Montreuil)—Critical Overview/Review

Susana Baca: Memoria Viva (2003; Mark Dixon)—Capsule

Portuguese Cinema

Blood, The (O Sangue, 1989; Pedro Costa)—Critical Overview/Review

Casa de Lava (1994; Pedro Costa)—Critical Overview/Review

Costa, Pedro—Interview (for The Greencine Daily)

Costa, Pedro—Overview

Tarrafal (2007; Pedro Costa)—Capsule

Tarrafal (2007; Pedro Costa)—Critical Overview/Review

Two Drifters (Odete, 2005; João Pedro Rodrigues)—Review

Spanish Cinema

20 Centimeters (20 Centímetros, 2005; Ramón Salazar)—Critical Overview/Review

Almadovar, Pedro—An Overview of the "Viva Pedro" Retrospective (for The Greencine Daily)

Birdsong (El Cant dels Ocells, 2008; Albert Serra)—Interview With Albert Serra & Mark Peranson

Boystown (Chuecatown, 2007; Juan Flahn)—Critical Overview

Buñuel, Luis—My Last Sigh Review

Chaotic Ana (Caótica Ana, 2007; Julio Medem)—Critical Overview

Grönholm Method, The (El método, 2005; Marcelo Piñeyro)—Festival Capsule

Iberia (2005; Carlos Saura)—Festival Capsule

In the City of Sylvia (En la Ciudad de Sylvia, 2007; José Luis Guerín)—Critical Overview

Mataharis (2007;Icíar Bollaín)—Critical Overview

Me (Yo, 2007; Rafa Cortés)—Critical Overview

Nocturna (2007;Victor Maldonado & Adrià García)—Critical Overview/Review

Obaba (2005; Montxo Armendáriz)—Festival Capsule

Obaba (2005; Montxo Armendáriz)—Critical Overview/Review

Orphanage, The (El Orfanato, 2007; Juan Antonio Bayona)—Critical Overview/Review

Orphanage, The (El Orfanato, 2007; Juan Antonio Bayona)—Interview with Juan Antonio Bayona & Sergio Sánchez (for The Greencine Daily)

Shiver (Eskalofrío, 2008; Isidro Ortiz)—Critical Overview/Review

Solitary Fragments (La soledad, 2007; Jaime Rosales)—Critical Overview

2008 MVFF31 Latinbeat: Chile—Mirageman

Mine is the Latinbeat for this year's Mill Valley Film Festival. Ever since running into Kiltro director Ernesto Diaz and Chilean martial artist Marko Zaror at the 2006 November American Film Market (where he was given the opportunity to view early footage of the duo's latest vehicle Mirageman), Twitch teammate Todd Brown has been unabashedly enthused about the project. In his first dispatch, Todd wrote: "Zaror, impossibly, seems to have gotten even faster since shooting Kiltro in which he was already far too fast and agile for such a big man. There are zero wires in this, zero CGI, so the action is much more raw. According to Zaror they often didn't even pull their punches. It's a bit of an unusual beast style wise, fusing the typical South American verite style with a bit of a 70's low budget Hong Kong chopsocky feel and, yeah, the mask and premise are pretty goofy but in pretty much exactly the right way."

Offering up the first photos for the film, Twitch teammate Mack followed through with a smack more, and Todd added an impressive YouTube training reel of Zaror in action, the amped-up poster, the subtitled trailer and several demo reels. Todd then programmed Mirageman's world premiere at Canada's 2007 Fantasia Film Festival and, eschewing objectivity, gave it a rave (albeit qualified) review. Diaz's script, Todd writes, "does a remarkable job of balancing fantasy with reality, comedy with grit, raw action with sly social parody." His only minor complaint is that "Mirageman has no true fighting match on the villain's side."

Mirageman won Audience Award for Best Film at the 2007 Austin Fantastic Fest and Audience Award for Best Chilean Film at the 2007 Valdivia International Film Festival and—as further reported by Todd at Twitch—the film's March 2008 Chilean premiere was a resounding popular success, launching an anticipated shift to the small screen. Magnolia Pictures has picked up both Mirageman and its predecessor Kiltro for U.S. distribution.

The film's appeal lies not only in the brooding good looks of its lead star, and in its truly impressive action sequences, but in the fact that it capitalizes on the fantasy each and every one of us has to be strong and well-trained enough to kick urban delinquency in its face. Mirageman is not so much a superhero as he is a conscientious vigilante, with all the attendant pros and cons of such a stance. The film's narrative traction is more about how the protagonist adopts his avenging persona once he realizes it has a positive effect on his traumatized younger brother. This is an action film that revolves around considerable heart and entertaining dosages of goofy humor and a wry critique of television media.

Cross-published on Twitch.