Histórias Mínimas

This film is a small jewel, that although (Japón by Reygadas) falls in the tendency to focus in the apparently simple thing, routine, non important; it does in such a way that his director Carlos Sorin manages to communicate that what sublimes in our lives is in order counts that, with which we fought every day: remorse's, yearnings, illusions. Acclimated in one of the loneliest places of the world, the Patagonia, it films interlaces three histories, that pass slowly as walking of a turtle (in fact is reference to that animal), but which they show after all the essence of the human beings. Splendid performances of non famous Argentine actors which also is very refreshing. You do not let see it.

An excellent movie from the most spectacular end of the world, Patagonia, which tells in a slow pace short, unspectacular but very humane stories of every day life: the ways of four protagonists - Don Justo is the most touching old man seen on the screen in a long time - cross in Puerto San Julian, the province capital, which is still just a handful of wind-shaken houses on the scenic coast. Poetic landscape, impressing actors, human touch - a must-see, not only for Patagonia fans.

"Historias Minimas" is a simple yet delightful tale, which follows three different people at different stages of their life (young mother Maria, middle-aged salesman Roberto and elderly shopowner Justo) who each doggedly pursue a dream, in a journey that will take them all to the same place.

The film, comparable to David Lynch's "The Straight Story", is a joy from start to finish. The cinematography is astounding, perfectly illustrating the barren beauty of the Patagonian plains, whereas the lead actors (particularly Roberto and Justo) give phenomenally realistic and warm performances. Most of the actors are non-professionals, and the discomfort of some of the actors in smaller roles is obvious, but this just adds to the film's overall charm.

Most importantly, however, I loved this film as it is a completely uncynical testament to the warmth of the human spirit. In it, our trio are helped along the way by complete strangers who ask for nothing in return. If only it were like that all the time...

A must-see.

In few films the title fits the content so well: Minimal Stories is exactly about that, small stories in which practically nothing that happens takes place outside the people who live them, tiny pieces of their lives where everything that occurs could be told in two or three lines. This movie is not about important events, nothing that could be called big. It is precisely that: a story of the small. The people that appear in it live in a village in South Patagonia surrounded by impressive extensions of flat land, of dust and nothing, as if to sharpen the feeling that nothing being told can be shot by the camera. To me, this is a merit of the film: to make me feel the camera is placed inside the people I see instead of outside. What it comes to show is the wonderful picture of the loneliness of the landscape impressed on them.

The movie can be seen as a road-movie in the loneliness of the province of Santa Cruz, in South Patagonia.

Each one of the three chief characters, with different kinds of loneliness, look for a light in their future: María, a very poor woman living in an abandoned railway station, is selected for take part in a TV prize program; Don Justo, an old man, looks for his dog lost years ago; Roberto, a road seller of goods, tries to gain the love of a young widow customer. Three simple stories that touch the heart of people because their emotiveness and humor.

This is the second movie of Carlos Sorin in the windy and desert Patagonia ("La Pelicula del Rey" was the former one).