VENEZIA.66

paraiso

di Hector Galvez
Perù 2009, 87'

Orizzonti

25/30

I’ve chosen to watch Paraiso, a movie of a Peruvian director Hector Galvez, since I’m interested in particular in this part of the world and especially in this country. Recently there have been some interesting productions from Peru, such as Madeinusa (2006) or The Milk Of Sorrow (2009, the first Peruvian film nominated for the Golden Bear award, and which won the main award ), both of the director Claudia Llosa. However, while Llosa’a style mixes reality with imagination and exaggeration, Galvez presents the reality just the way it is.
Personally, I see this movie as an illustration of the narrative of a Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa which I’m familiar with and which I admire with all my heart.
The main characters of Paraiso, which stands for a part of the suburbs of Lima that, in fact, has nothing to do with the Paradaise, are some teenage friends who are about to leave the world of their childhood and step into the real life: make the most important choices about their future and become adults. All of them expect one have various plans, projects that they want to put into practice, but in this tough world just wanting is not enough. Actually, in the end almost none of them will do what was planned.

However, we get to know that there is one way to leave Paraiso behind and start a new, different life, away from the severity and misery of this place. One of the protagonists decides to follow his dreams and is brave enough to run away with the circus and do what he wants to do and not what he’s obliged to. He’s eager to change his life completely without even knowing if it’s gonna be a change for the better.
I think we all know how hard it is to rebel against what people expect us to be or to do, how hard it is to leave the life we used to live and start it all over. That’s why to me and to his peers he’s a real hero.
It’s important to mention that Galvez’s movie is the first Peruvian production ever in the Venice Film Festival’s official selection. I believe that although it can indeed seem a bit boring it’s worth seeing since Latin America still remains a not entirely explored region and it’s interesting to see how their Paradaise differes from the one we have in our minds.

09:09:2009

66.ma mostra
le recensioni

Venezia, 02/12 settembre 2009