Bienvenidos

There is nothing I like more than finding a film that is fresh, genuine, moving and funny. Bienvenidos is such a thing, a long short film shot in two rural areas in the Peruvian Andes by the Spanish director Javier Fesser. The actors in the film aren't actors but real people using their real names.

The film revolves about the excitement of the arrival of Internet to the schools in the area, and is mostly narrated by the utterly charming dreamy Anni. These people and kids lead very harsh lives, but they have a tremendous joy for life, a pride about their country, and a great excitement about the arrival of the Internet to their villages. Listening to the kiddos and the villagers comment about what the Internet is, how it works and about the "cloud" is absolutely charming, funny and wonderful. The viewer shares the excitement of Anni and her cousin Gisela, and of the rest of the villagers, because these people see the internet as way of learning, as a way of letting the world know that they exist, and to communicate with the world.

The film has a great cinematography, a beautiful soundtrack, and gorgeous colors. However, what I loved the most was the sincerity, freshness and sense of humour displayed by these simple but wise great people. These kids are just adorable. And mind you, some of the dialogues are really funny!

Discovering he world is always magical, no matter your age, but when the world is discovered by small kids in a remote area of the world, where no luxury exists, is just extra-magical.