L'ours rouge

What can I say about a film from one of the best filmmaker of the last decade in Argentina? The answer is: ALL. Caetano is a master, but in Un oso rojo only shows that he can manage a cinematogrephic language in an easy way, and that he can build an story with only two or three good ideas. Chavez is like Al Pacino, or better, like Beat Kitano: he goal one of the best interpretation of the argentinian history. A must see for thriller fans.

It is a standard movie enhanced by the performances and some dialogs. 'El oso' comes out of prison after having been convicted for armed robbery and homicide , and finds his wife and 10 years daughter in a new family with Sergio. Sergio isn´t passing good times, unoccupied and with debts.

The love of 'El oso' for his daughter becomes almost an obsession, as the idea of repair the time not passed together. 'Is it true you killed a cop?' she ask him. 'Of course is not true. That's a very bad thing to do', is his answer. And he try to collect the money of a previous robbery from some old colleagues. 7/10

Un oso Rojo is the best Argentinian film ever, Why? Respect. The movie respects the spectator and is a full emotional ride between Bear trying to make an effort to give her daughter a value. He is a criminal, but he has codes and never will cheat a partner. This movie is the first Urban Western made in my country and is breathtaking. The main actor Julio Chavez gave the performance of his life composing a trouble antihero that fights in his own perspective to be the good guy in the movie. The music is great and the scenario couldn't be better. Adrian Caetano shows us again how to make a true movie about marginality with out low blows and respecting the spectator. Try to see this movie thinking you are an ex convict in a south American country with no skills that the ones the streets gave him. the final scene is one of the best action scenes ever in Argentinian movies. The hero is a man of law in a world of criminals. The bes Argentinian film ever

If a movie's success is based on how much you care about the characters in it and relate to them, then this movie is a great success.

This is the story about a recently released convict Oso (Julio Garcia) trying to pick up the pieces of his life on the outside. He was cheated out of his share of the money from the crime he was jailed for and goes to collect it. But the head of the gang he worked for Turco doesn't want to pay and wants him to do another job.

He reconnects with his daughter and ex wife who has moved on with her life.

There was one hole in the plot that bothered me--Oso the main character after doing the second robbery would surely have left finger prints all over the stolen car. It is minor. Obviously you also have to suspend some disbelief when Oso knocks off about a dozen armed thugs outnumbered 10 to 1....but by this time you have gotten to like the guy and champion him on.

Unlike Hollywood in Argentina sometimes crime pays. GREAT.

It is enjoyable and of course its venue BA is fun too.

Last but not least the sound track was quite good. Usually I only notice the sound track when it really bad or good.

RECOMMEND

If this movie reminds you of `UNFORGIVEN', you are not wrong. The main difference is while that was set one hundred and fifty years in the past; this one is the present of many people in South America.

Oso (Bear), the nickname of a big and not particularly friendly guy, is released from prison after ten years. He was arrested, on his daughter's first birthday, committing a robbery where he killed a policeman. His only desires are to reencounter his daughter and collect his share of the robbery, his ex-boss `El Turco' never paid to his family.

Of course, the money and his family does not exist anymore. After such time, his wife got another man and his daughter is unaware of his existence. And his boss expend the money. For several reasons, he accepts another robbery organized by `El Turco'. Betrayal and death will follow.

Oso (as portrayed by the exceptional Argentinean actor Julio Chavez) a man is that knows hell and is used to it. He is a physical person, violent and not very fond of words. His face is tough and terrifying. The kind of guy you will (and must run away) if you ever cross with him. Aside from Chavez, Soledad Villamil as his wife, Luis Machin as the boyfriend and particulary Agostina Lage as the daughter are superb.

However, as many wild animals (and Oso is really wild) he will protect his siblings even if he has to kill for that. He has nothing else to loose, no future, and no fear or remorse. As I said, he has no future but he did not surrender either.

Caetano, never tries to make the character lovable. In one scene he steals from a peasant who refuses to give him money; in another, he beats his wife boyfriend (a poor guy who lost his job and is trying to make a few bucks gambling) because he thinks is bad for his daughter (coming from an unrepentant criminal and killer doesn't look very moralizing).

Oso is the real thing Tom Hanks tried and fail to do in `Road to Perdition'. In one scene with his daughter, she talks about things he does not care or understand, but his face or mask shows a huge effort to reach or communicate with her even when both worlds are impossible to mix.

Aside from the simple story, there is the incredible and moving background of the South American (Argentina in this case) poverty. There are no fancy houses here, walls are not painted or even finished. Mate is the drink or beer (in South America is cheaper that colas) and the houses are so small that one must stand for the other to pass. The catch here is that all those losers and criminals, are product of social situation of jobless families trying to survive in any way they can. So when the movie ends, do not expect the moral redempting American ending. Here, people keep the money even if it was not obtained honestly, because is they only way to survive.