One of the quaintest yet uplifting films that I have come across is the Mexican movie "Aurora Boreal." It might sound a strange name for a Mexican film. Aurora borealis, the correct Latin term, describes one of the celestial sights the main protagonist wishes to see before he dies. It is a celestial phenomenon seen in the Arctic Circle on certain nights. I too share that wish with the protagonist. Those who have witnessed it say that is one of the finest sights man can ever see on earth.
Why is the film quaint? The subject of the film is of a young boy who loves to carry a camcorder and knows how to use it with extreme dexterity. Yet this talented boy wants to commit suicide. The film's narration by the young person begins with he words "If you are watching this movie, you know that I am already dead
." Logically, the viewer finds two possibilities-either the protagonist is indeed dead or he is fooling the viewer. You have to wait to the end to figure out the truth.
A considerable part of the film deals with the "suicide" obsessed youngster asking all and sundry what others thought of suicide and why he should not commit suicide. And he records all the comments on his camcorder. Strangely no one tells him why he should not kill himselfa fact he records on the camcorder.
What a stupid morbid subject, I say to myself. But something in the film keeps you tied down to your seatyou resist your own impulses to leave. The filmmaker suggests slowly to the viewer gently in small doses of information that there is more to this film. Why on earth would a young intelligent kid, who evidently knows how to handle a camcorder in so many exciting ways than I for one would ever be able, have a death/suicide wish? And it's not that he has no buddieshe has a few.
The second part of the film reveals the real reason why the protagonist wants to snuff out his life. He has a sibling semi-paralyzed for life due to his own negligence years ago. All his family recognizes that he was to blame.
The film has an unusual ability to retain the interest of the viewer right up to the final seconds of the film while a morbid tale gradually transforms into an exciting and positive story. By the end of the film, you congratulate yourself for not making that attempt to escape through the exit door of the movie hall and for staying on right up to the end of the movie.
The film gradually reveals the motive that leads a 14-year old to behave in this manner in a most engaging manner. The director, writer, and editor of the film, 26 year old Sergio Tovar Velarde making his debut feature film, was amply rewarded when it won the best film in competition award at the Guadaljara film festival of 2008.
