Kamchatka

I've just seen this move, and I think it's wonderful. The performance of Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth is superb. The movie show us how life was in Argentina for dissident people, in the seventies, under the military government. I am not an Argentinian, so I don't know much of its history. If you are like me, I recommend you to read the summary of the movie that is in the Extras section of the DVD, to be acquainted of the political situation in this years. If you are in your late thirties, or even if you are older, you'll also enjoy remembering those old beautiful songs. I thought "Son of the bride" was the best movie of Ricardo Darin, but I was wrong. This movie is as good or better.

This movie exudes the finesse and maturity of Latin American cinema of the new millenium. Long gone is the exploitation of magical realism and the cult of the exotic. The noble savage gives way to universal characters with very complex feelings.

I'm so glad this old baggage of the victim's complex has been checked at the door. The result is a beautiful movie about a family on the run during the 1970's Argentine military junta crack down. Kamchatka is free of the cliches and over-acting of Latin American movies of yesteryear. National identity is no longer the main story line, but rather a subtle backdrop that brings about one of the best stories about political crisis anywhere, the dismembering of a family.

Kamchatka has one of the most arresting final scenes that I have ever seen. This is a grand achievement of Argentine film.

Like "Harry", I always enjoyed playing TEG. If you have never played it, don´t worry, for it´s actually pretty simple: one board with fifty countries, and three or four players trying to control 30 of them to win the game. But Harry has never played with so many people - he just plays with his dad. And when its only two players, it is a fight to the death: all 50 countries or nothing. Harry has never won before, and he is very close to winning - but his dad, controlling this little, obscure region on the edge of the board, this remote place with a tongue twister of a name, Kamchatka, still manages to resist for hours and hours. As Harry will learn later, surviving against all odds is indeed possible... and as he warns us as the movie begins, this will be the last and most memorable lesson he has learned from his father.

A touching tale made up of childhood memories, Kamchatka tells the story of a middle-class couple in Argentina in the mid-70s, during the military dictatorship that horrified and scarred the country. One day, without warning, the couple take their two children to an abandoned house, desperately trying to escape. But of course, the children understand nothing of this - instead they are forced to leave their lives behind and even change their names. The movie cleverly focuses on the older of the two boys, Harry (who actually names himself after Harry Houdini), and suggests the horrors of the period through subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) metaphors, sometimes with a sense of humor you wouldn´t expect for this type of pictures.

The good thing about "Kamchatka" is that it is not a history lesson - you never know exactly what the parents (and the other people that come and go into the children´s lives) did to be hiding, but it doesn´t really matter. What matter is that the film accurately portrays the heartbreaking situation of a man and a woman who do not know if they´ll live to see their children grow, and are still strong enough to fight back and try to smile for them. We don´t know what they did when they left the house every day. We don´t know what happened to their friends and co-workers. We don´t even learn their real names - like so many of the "desaparecidos", they are the anonymous victims of a goverment that almost destroyed a country. We only see the couple through the innocent - but oddly wise - eyes of their children.

Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth have once again proved with this movie that they are some of the best actors in Argentina right now - I´ve seen them both in more demanding roles, mind, and this is far from being their best performances... and yet they are both believable and their chemistry with the children is perfect. Director Ricardo Piñeyro knows what he is doing, and it shows: with this type of material it is dangerously easy to fall into the trap of making a cheap melodrama, and yet he manages (for the most part) to avoid making the picture overly sentimental or manipulative. Kamchatka may not be a perfect film, but it´s heart-felt and beautifully filmed.

For viewers who wish to know more about this dark time in Argentina´s history, you may rent the excellent Oscar-winning "The Official Story".

This is an engaging tale narrated in sensitivity and intelligence and are treated ethic and moral issues developed in great sense of ductility and fairness . Dealing with the story of a family – Harry, Midget and their parents- , as they go into hiding , being based on the notorious novel written by Marcelo Figueras who breaks down his book 'Kamchatka'. It is set in 1976 , Argentina , there happens a coup d'etat led by General Videla and other officers . Thousands of citizens opposed to military regime are chased and kidnapped , as there are numerous missing people . Ten-year-old Harry , who does not know that Argentina's 1976 coup d'état is impacting his life . After witnessing the "disappearance" of dissident friends , a human rights advocate at law (Ricardo Darín) and his research scientist spouse (Cecilia Roth) take their children from school , Harry and his little brother , leave their home and all of them go to a vacant summer house . They flee the city and hide at a far mansion from the military police . With them are their two kids : Harry (Matia Del Pozo) , who is fascinated with the escape artistry of ¨Harry Houdini¨ , ¨Mandrake¨ and TV series as ¨Roy Thinnes' The Invaders¨ (1967) , ¨Simon Templar's The Saint¨ and along with the little guy (Milton De La Canal) , nicknamed El Enano (The actual translation is "dwarf") , they form a close-knit family living at a hidden house . Both of whom finally learn the meaning of the family and help each other . At the countryside mansion , all of them adopt new identities and try to lead a normal life . Subtly hinted , however, and used as a metaphor , is the mother's constant smoking and El Enano's renewed bed-wetting . After that , at the location placed in city outskirts , they are joined by a young student who is using the alias Lucas (Tomás Fonzi) and he really befriends Harry . Their new life is difficult , but a visit with their estranged grandparents : grandmother(Fernanda Mistral) and grandfather (Héctor Alterio) reveals that they are still an intimate family . As a host of characters , completely change the tedious life of Harry .

Enticing as well as intelligent film plenty of good feeling , sense , deep sensibility as well as a well written script delving into the human psyche , showing how stressful and precarious situation of a beloved family is . Based on Marcelo Figueras' novel "Kamchatka" - who grew up in Argentina and currently lives in Barcelona- , this is his first to be translated into English concerning about the foursome takes on new identities at the beginning of Argentina's Dirty War in 1976 ; the 309-page book is told from Harry's perspective and takes its title from a key territory in the board game Risk . The film is seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy , being an agreeable , quiet film , perfectly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship between parents and children . This is a brooding yarn in which there is a psychologically intense character studio of the likable members of a peculiar family being harassed , chased , pursued by the military regime . The film attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , in spite of the relentless pursuit they suffer , with its amusing sides and dark areas . Trying to be realistic and make everything as in a fairytale but giving way to mirth and humor . In addition , the film gives us a nice panorama about a middle-class family , its pity , goodness, sacrifice , companionship and various situations happen in its existence . Marcelo Piñeyro tries to mix genres ranging from comedy to melodrama with some sensitive touches . The veteran actors , Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth give very good performances . Gentle , sympathetic the little boy played by Matias Del Pozo along with his brother , Milton De La Canal . It is an endearing and intimate film , well directed and well acted by a fine cast , but perhaps fails a little the main protagonist , Harry , whose optimism is as obvious that results to be excessive . Supporting cast is frankly excellent as Tomas Fonzi and aged players as Héctor Alterio and Fernanda Mistral .

Colorful cinematography by Alfredo Mayo , considered to be one of the best Spanish cameraman , author of splendid photographs in notorious films such as ¨Mondays in the sun¨, ¨Kika , ¨High heels¨ , "Sex, Party and Lies" , "The Galíndez File" , ¨Heroína¨ and several others . Lively , moving as well as emotive musical score by Bingen Mendizábal . Adding known songs adapted with roots in popular music of the seventies ; recreating the essence of the epoch with vintage songs , accompanying sensual melodies and lyrics such as ¨Son Tus Perfumes Mujer¨, including some memorable images when the family members dance themselves . The motion picture was well directed by Marcelo Pyñeiro and it was Argentina's official submission for the 2002 Oscar Awards, Foreign Language film category . He was born in 1953 in Buenos Aires, Argentina . Marcelo usually works with his fetish actor , Leonardo Sbaraglia . Piñeyro is a director and writer , especially known for ¨Plata Quemada¨ (2000) and , of course , the big hit : ¨El Método¨ or ¨the Method¨ (2005) . Marcelo has directed the following films -being most of them dramas and thrillers- : 2009 ¨La Viudas De Jueves¨ , 2003 ¨Kamchatka¨ , 2000 ¨Plata Quemada¨ or ¨Burst money¨ , 1997 ¨Cenizas del Paraíso¨ , 1995 ¨Caballos Salvajes¨ and 1993 ¨Tango Feroz¨ . Rating : 7/10 .

An Argentine couple move into hiding with their two sons. Hiding from whom? Why? The movie will not tell us the answer to those questions because that is not what this movie is about. I have to say, though, that I could not stop wondering that through the whole movie.

This movie is the story of how this family fights to overcome obstacles (whatever they might be). The effort parents have to make to provide a happy family live for their kids even when their own personal life is plagued with difficulties. Explained with the simplicity of a nine years old boy's perspective the movie is just beautiful and well done.

Winner of a "Ciguapa de Oro" at the Santo Domingo 5th International Film Festival I highly recommend it to everybody. 8.5 out 10