El otro hermano

I really loved the ambiance, a chaotic energy to give taste, junk, trinkets, junk, very dirty and old, that's how I love it, kkkk, a very perfect plot, one of the best Latin films produced by four hands (countries)... A tight network of murders, deaths, blood, blows and scams, well appropriated and developed... Everything so perfect and realistic, perfect script, masterful execution, agile development and intense ending, disgusting, disgusting, repulsive, dramatic, ambition taken to extreme levels, I was interested in the work of the author of the novel... Perfection defines... Very good, excellent, I love it...

I think I'm starting to learn Spanish by absorption I've watched so many Argentinian films lately, and I'm glad I have, as they are presenting scenarios in an art form that Hollywood is simply unable to do. Rather than budget constraints resulting in trashy exploitation movies, as tend to come out of more affluent nations, it seems to focus and direct these film maker's attention back to the essentials of film making, and The Lost Brother is no exception.

The title can refer to any of the three 'brothers' here as they each are lost and are central to its plot. This is not so much a film to be enjoyed, but experienced rather, as everything about it is believable and painful, even the unsettling dual-personality of its main character.

People really do vanish in these environments, and presented here is a possible situation in which some of these disappearances occur. It's all awkward, sad, and difficult to watch, where the manipulation and abuse of the elderly and poor is up for grabs, and even the perpetrator lives in mental and physical squalor.

The acting is natural and authentic, the direction superb, the script tight and unpredictable, and the score is sparse and effective, all so much so in fact that it can leave one dispirited - you have been warned.

But it will give you an insight into another world, raw and unfiltered, and make you appreciate being able to watch this in your comfortable urban front room on your 40" LCD TV.

Every time I have watched a Leonardo Sbaraglia film, I know that I will not be disappointed. He's such a fascinating actor who is constantly changing and evolving in the roles he plays. Of course he is always surrounded by a fine cast and this film is no exception. They are first rate. But Sbaraglia manages to hypnotize with his chameleon-like qualities - amazing! His role of DUARTE here should be a master class for acting students. The tautness of the script, characters so lean and well delineated and masterful direction lead us to a suspenseful conclusion.

The concept of the movie is quite interesting. Unfortunately the main character is quite bland to put it mildly. The story itself is interesting and there are quite a few surprises along the way. The other characters are actually more interesting. Not that you have many people to root for. Well none that get explored in depth that is for that matter.

So while family is or can be a big thing, in this case it seems to be an excuse to bring a stranger into town. A thriller works in certain circumstances and this has its merits, but in this case you really have to suspend a lot of disbelief and try to stick with it, even with all the obstacles thrown into your way. I am not judging the main actor after this one performance, so maybe it was the script, maybe it was a number of things, but they all work against the idea behind it all ...

Good actors and an interesting story, but not for two hours. I like slow movies when the rhythm is part of the story telling. In this case, it's just boring. From the finished film, a good editor, even without the original footage, would transform this in an excellent short movie that everybody would love to watch.