Rodrigo D: No futuro

"Rodrigo D: No Futuro" is one of those films that doesn't necessarily aspire to be one of the greatest films you've ever seen but it has that one special quality that endures and stays with you after seeing it. I've seen several films through the years, dealing with many realities and outcomes, and lately was avoiding similar topics dealing with poverty, crime, harsh realities due to the fact you'll always get the same scenario of despair, brutal murders and stuff. To me, that trend was tiring already and wasn't adding much to me. This film, however, made an impact with me. Having never seen a film from Colombia, this was my first experience, it left me very impressed and hooked through the whole thing, and I was able to take a different perspective on things, examine how similar Brazil and Colombia were and are even today. I couldn't stop thinking about it and that's the kind of effect you expect from movies, specially from ones you expect more of the same.

Víctor Gaviria's first feature film revolves around the title character (nicely played by then newcomer Ramiro Meneses), a teenage boy who dreams of forming a punk rock band. Problem is: this is 1988, he lives in the Medellín slums and there's no other interesting alternative for anyone except to join the crime world. Maybe that's not entirely accurate because Rodrigo gets offered some job by his father but he doesn't go. He prefers to stick with his loyal mates, all of them who are into punk music, play some music here and there but mostly focus in stealing motorcycles, cars and consuming drugs. In between crimes and music, Rodrigo and his friends go through life just finding ways to get easy money and escape from authorities, always having to find different hideaways.

Here's a film that presents life as it is. Far from giving us a character who faces obstacles to fulfill a dream and building up to something, the story focus more about his reality, the environment surrounding him and how the choices for a life change are so narrow yet so invisible to Rodrigo and his mates. But since they're limited to a place that only presents them the bad side of everything they make the best they can with that: if not usually robbing innocent people, they're teasing each other or making poor music performances...but it's the best they got. My favorite scene from the picture is in fact one of those "poor" performances. After a lousy audition from some punks, Rodrigo and one friend decide to make a small jam session: Rodrigo in the drums and vocals and his mate playing the guitar, singing some bits. That was the highest point of the film in terms of seeing, without any other kind of explanation or a line of dialogue, why music is so important to them. The sense of liberty, release and complete abandon of all society rules, for that brief moment is what brings the characters closer to the dream or at least to some new reality that makes it worth living. That's what punk rock is all about besides the rebellion; in fact, those characters have a lot more to rebel against society than the actual punk creators.

Gaviria's film is a near-perfect film - sure, there's some errors at times, characters that come and go and we don't know exactly who they are. But I believe he made a movie that echoed life with its uncertainties, problems, conflicts and misery. The closing credits is a depressive statement on that, when he dedicates the film to four actors who were murdered in between the film's making and its release, all of them dead before reaching their 20's. That's the fact that actually got me the most, remembering everything those characters went through, their stories and friendship and then...life's thrown back at you in such a devastating way, a statement that defines the picture almost in a hopeless way. But not completely. As evidenced by the prominent soundtrack, the film features music from many Colombian punk rock bands (the main theme "Dinero" is unforgettable). So, even in that unending state of despair there was some way out. And that's what Rodrigo believes. A way to leave the crime/drugs world behind and also the talks of his family thinking he's no good.

Besides having a title character with the same name as me, another thing that hooked me (later on as I discovered) is the film's full title. Due to proximity of languages, I've always interpreted "No Futuro" as if being "Rodrigo D: In the Future". But looking out for the English version I came to realize that it's actually "No Future", which seems more appropriate due to the nature of the film and the punk aspects (Sex Pistols, baby). But with this title play or lack of translation here, it made me appreciate it even more because for one particular moment you can imagine what's the road Rodrigo will travel in and what possible outcome audiences will like to see it happening. 9/10

Someone told me about this movie years ago and, for whatever reason, they thought it was a serious documentary. It isn't, but it sort of seems like one, though. Honestly, if you aren't a fan of 80's punk, I'd think this one would wear on your nerves pretty quick but, happily, I am so it was OK but not great. This subject matter of lower class youth with no future has been covered before in numerous other films and, having been heavily involved in the punk subculture for over 25 years, starting in the early 80's, you'd think I'd have more sympathy for the characters in this film but I really don't. It didn't end well for many of the people I knew back then and, apparently, it didn't end well for some of the guys in this flick, either. The shanty town portrayed in the movie is clearly a mess, but it's the bad attitude that dooms you. Period. The lack of character development doesn't help, either, and the film just kind of rambles on, but I found it enjoyable enough and it has a great soundtrack. If you feel you need to see every depressing punk rock or juvenile delinquent flick ever made, then you probably need to see it; if you are looking for fun, punk rock shlock south of the border, watch "Intrepidos Punks" because this thing is pretty much a non-stop downer and not fun at all.

Rodrigo D is not the best film ever made, it even has some glitches and in the version that I watched a character gets murdered in two different scenes (a confusing screw up). But this is what makes the film so authentic, the actors are natural residents of the slums basically acting themselves, and in reality many die before the movie is even featured.

The slums are just a labyrinth of houses made from whatever material, and people just seem to walk from the steps to the roofs thanks to its disorganized assembly. Many of the rooftops are bare; this was to continue building in the future and rent the subsequent floors, but most roofs remained bare for the coming years. Pure authenticity portraying the internal feelings most higher classes and foreigners take for cold blooded assassins.

If you are having a hard time understanding the scenes, or are looking for the movie online to watch with English subtitles, there's a good article post on Hubpages with the entire movie explained in English. Its called: "Rodrigo D No Futuro Complete Movie Online and Critic Review (with English subtitles)"

This is a brilliant movie about Rodrigo and his friends, a group of punks who wander the streets of Medellin, getting high, stealing cars, listening to Punk and Heavy Metal music. They're stuck in lives of poverty, with no opportunities and no motivation to try to improve their lives. Their routine is interrupted only when the cops catch up with one of them (which is really an inevitability for all of them, sooner or later), or they get into a fight. Rodrigo dreams of starting a rock band, something that might give his life some meaning (he has no education beyond the 1st grade, has no job, and basically sits around the house all day listening to his family complain about how lazy he is). The movie depicts the world of Rodrigo and his friends with harsh realism, accompanied by striking cinematography, pulsing rock music, and a script with an ear for how these people communicate. While this movie is clearly influenced by "Los Olvidados," it also bears a resemblance to Alex Cox's great "Sid and Nancy" - we are invited to see the world in which these young rebels live, and to understand the ways in which it can destroy them.

Rodrigo and his friends are bored teenagers living in Medellin. Rodrigo wants to start a punk band. The youths mainly loaf around the hillside shanty towns and, for kicks, steal a bike or car, or shoot someone.

This film really grabbed me. Not necessarily for any specific reason, but more for the overall concept. One, you have the setting in Medellin. For me, that is synonymous with the drug cartel. And at the time this film was released (1990), I am sure that is exactly what it was going for.

Also, the punk rock scene. This is probably naive on my part, but I don't generally think of punk music as being so international. I know there are punk bands everywhere, but it seems odd to have one as the focus of a South American movie. Maybe that's normal. But this surprise is what really made this a great film for me.