Tony

Tony is a near perfect utilization of the many talents of writer, director, and lead actor, Hugo Diego Garcia.

The genre film feels both nostalgic and fresh. Garcia's portrayal, based on his own father's grapple between school and the streets, is tough and heartfelt, tender and ferocious-and specific and conflicted all at once. The cinematography is thoughtful and profound. In fact, each detail, down to the costumes and blocking, work harmoniously in true mise-en-scène of a great auteur.

Hugo Diego Garcia showcases multiple talents, but he stands out most as an actor, commanding the screen with a smoldering face and athletic build. His willingness to open his heart and allow his soul to shine through however, is what makes him special, and an actor to watch.

This beautifully made film encapsulates a time and place brilliantly while poignantly capturing themes which currently resonate. It's hard to believe this is the debut film for lead actor / director Hugo Diego Garcia. With beauty, action, excellent performances by Garcia and a killer ensemble cast, and a throbbing score by MALO, we feel as if we're in the hands of a veteran here. Watch this film and remember it. Hugo Diego Garcia will be a household name.

Had the chance to watch this in BH in 2019 and was blown away by the level of this short. The director nailed the tone and we actually feel like we are in the 80s. The music, outstanding, helps creating this world and establish this particular time. Ensemble is great, the main character Tony kills it and although the arc is quite simple, it's anchored in truth and executed well. Stylized yet realistic, violent yet beautiful, Tony is at cool as it gets when it comes to shorts. Looking forward to see what's next...

I got to see the short film Tony and was taken by this heart wrecking and beautiful drama.I was very impressed by Hugo Diego Garcia's craft as a director as well as an actor. He portrays a deeply complex and layered character with a rare and subtle authenticity, leading an impeccable ensemble cast of misfits. He mastered the tone of his story, giving it an incredibly original 80s style. I should also mention the perfect score which elevates this violent but brilliant piece of filmmaking.

"Senseless violence is a prerogative of youth, which has much energy but little talent for the constructive." - Anthony Burgess

Burgess' quote seems fittingly applied by filmmaker Hugo Diego Garcia in his film "Tony," which follows a young Spaniard immigrant who joins a gang of thuggish racially persecuted immigrants in 1980's France.

There are times where the narrative of this period gangster film meanders, yet the acting, specifically Hugo Diego Garcia, who also plays the lead character Tony, makes up for any story flaws. Garcia's understated performance lingers, seeping through your veins like a slow intravenous drip. Through the smallest, most subtle reactions, Garcia plays a likable, empathetic rogue, delivering a complex character, struggling with layers of internal conflict, whose emotional frailty manifests in a paralytic moral split.

As a director, Hugo Diego Garcia has a visually arresting sensibility. Stylistically, "Tony" reminded me of Scorsese's "Mean Streets" and Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange." Garcia's directorial debut is far from perfect, but there is no doubt that he delivers a vivid, indelible, emotive performance.