Dólares de arena

Dominican Republic is a wonderful country full of contrasts. In one hand, we have a little piece of Paradise called Samaná, a place where you feel like in Heaven with the most beautiful beaches in the world. In the other, our people live in poverty and, sometimes, they have to do anything to survive. Samaná is the natural scenery of "Sand Dollars", fourth film of the real-life couple, Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas, based freely on the homonymous novel by Jean-Noél Pancrazi. In this tropical Shangri La, young people sell their bodies to foreigners who buy with dollars the illusion of love in the permanent orgy of tobacco, rum and sex disguise of tenderness and with a soundtrack of authentic 'bachatas'. In the Neo-realism cinema tradition, the directors recruit talents without any experience in movies, like Yanet Mojica and Ricardo Ariel Toribio. Together, is Geraldine Chaplin, a heavyweight name, who gives one of the most brave and fearless role in years. "Sand Dollars", easily is the best Dominican movie of 2014. A must see.

Noeli (Yanet Mojica) is a local Dominican woman who entices foreign tourists to give her their valuables. Her boyfriend sells off the jewelry. Her next target is Anne (Geraldine Chaplin).

This has a great premise for character study and relationship drama. It also has an interesting old Hollywood name. I expected a bit more but this turns out to be a quiet affair. The drama is left at a slow boil. The danger is set at a gentle level. There is an interesting turn but it doesn't turn up the heat as I expected. It's still great to see Geraldine Chaplin very capable at her age. Mojica is a newcomer. Her facial expressions are limited but she does have some physicality. This film takes the slow tropical vacation to its heart.

I really liked this film, it touches on opportunity, love, fake love/abuse, jealousy and a paradise vs future dynamic that many people in less developed countries have pondered upon

You'll see the type of typical tourists naivety that'll make you look in the mirror depicted here

There is a lot of silence in this film, many things are said via facial expression or distant shots with a gorgeous sun-kissed island background so if you like that Hollywood heavy narration and soundtracks that try and force your film journey it might not be for you

I would definitely recommend this as a random film choice for the evening so if you get the chance to watch it, take it.