समाचार

Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival

An old man in search of his runaway dog, a poor young mother who has been picked to be a game show contestant and a love-struck salesman cross paths in "Historias Minimas" (Minimal Stories), a winsome road movie by Argentine filmmaker Carlos Sorin.

Screened in competition at this year's Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Guacamole Films' poetic picture, which has yet to secure American distribution, travels a considerable distance on its gentle humor and the engaging performances of its largely nonprofessional cast.

Long stretches of empty highway separate all three characters from their common destination -- namely the Southern Patagonian town of San Julian. It is there that retiree Don Justo (nonpro Antonio Benedictis) hopes to be reunited with his long-lost pooch. Meanwhile, Maria (music teacher Javiera Bravo) has a shot a winning a food multiprocessor, even though her tiny home has no electricity.

Also making the trip is Roberto Real actor Javier Lombardo), a traveling salesman hoping to woo a recently widowed young woman.

While they all don't necessarily get what they've come for, each leaves San Julian with at least a promising flicker of hope. And, thanks to the completely natural performances, just getting there is well worth the journey.