Los Buscadores

I started watching this movie without expecting too much of it, cinema from Paraguay I can't say I'm familiar with it. I watched it more in the hope to perfect my Spanish but since they translated Los Buscadores in The Gold Seekers I wasn't expecting to learn a lot either. But it was a pleasant surprise, it's a good entertaining movie, a little treasure hunt in Paraguay. There's some mystery and suspense that keeps your attention. The cast was also good, all unknown actors to me, but certainly not bad. Los Buscadores is an easy movie to watch, easy popcorn entertainment.

This is an excellent caper movie by the director of the superb '7 Boxes' from a few years ago. Initially, I thought this might be a 'Young Indiana Jones' (or should I say 'Young Paraguay Jones'?) as our young hero looks for a treasure map. Instead, the movie soon smoothly transitions into an excellent caper movie. Plans are made and go awry. Other groups try to horn into the action, and a lot of fun chaos ensues.

The movie gradually introduces quite a few characters, but they are well-drawn and well acted, so it is never difficult to tell them apart. The Asuncion setting is also interesting, with the river rising to threaten whole neighborhoods. The motif of rising water is cleverly echoed in throughout the movie.

The title in English, The Gold Seekers, is not really accurate. It isn't gold that they are after. But I suppose using the title 'The Searchers' would evoke John Wayne in a confusing way.