Los Frikis

Approached with care because of the fateful plot line, this film will be my favorite of the Tallgrass FF. The actors were invested in this incredible movie which recreates Havana at the start of the AIDS epidemic. I don't expect to see a film this raw, raucous and tender again this year.

Direction was lively, the cast were authentic, cinematography was impressive. Little time was wasted setting up the narrative which was tough to digest, frank and brutal. The music exploded with energy. The script presented tough choices, tough consequences, tough behavior.

Scheduled for a December 2024 release. If you get a chance to see it in a theater, grab it.

Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz from THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON fame bring us another stunning production that will grab your heart and not let it go. Based on true events, Los Frikis takes us on a journey that is heartbreaking but also provides some much needed moments of humor. Beautifully shot in the Dominican Republic with authentic, super talented Cuban actors, this film is a must see.

I was lucky enough to watch Los Frikis at The Lighthouse International Film Festival as its opening night film in a packed, standing room only crowd and hear the filmmakers discuss their passion for this story.

There is no way you will not ponder this story after the credits roll. The desperation of these human beings, the determination to live, it is all here.

Don't miss an opportunity to experience this film.

A must see.

Best feature I've seen this year. Tragic circumstance requiring survival shows the power of Love and the indomitable human spirit, prevailing in such a way it will drive you to tears and celebration simultaneously! The directing is amazing, writing amazing, and editing amazing also. Oscar noms for the lead actors and actress would not surprise me!

My heart was vulnerable throughout, and the ending was dynamic. Did not disappoint. The gent I was seated next to told one of the producers after the viewing, " You have made the perfect film". Will think about this for a long time. Best of luck with SAG awards. Deserving!

Los Frikis is a hauntingly beautiful film that took me by surprise. Watching it blind at AMC last night, I was captivated by the raw drama and stunning cinematography. The story is deeply moving, showcasing complex characters and a gripping narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. Every performance felt authentic, and the direction brought it all together flawlessly. The film strikes an emotional chord, blending beauty and heartbreak in equal measure. This is a movie that deserves widespread support and recognition. Don't miss it-it's a cinematic experience that truly resonates and stays with you.

I saw Los Frikis at the Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF). This film hit me in a way that is hard to describe, but I can only say that like nothing else it pulled me into the extreme duress that was life for many Cubans under Castro's regime. Yet, I would hardly describe the film as political. The political situation is only the backdrop. It is the characters, Gustavo and his older brother Paco, and their close friends and people around them, who are the subject of this film. You might describe it as a slice of life, though pleasant and comfortable it is not. But, neither is it only about stress and problems and suffering. This film is also about the beautiful and human moments the characters experience together, and the sheer joy and love they can feel.

This film is essentially about life, about human existence. It is about all the dark things and all the exquisite things that entails. The emotions are real, their conversations are real, the characters are real. In all this, the film also does an excellent job of not straying into the melodramatic.

If I were to summarise my thoughts about this film in one single conclusion, it is this: if humanity were ever to discover intelligent extraterrestrial life, an intelligent species on a different planet, yet they were so many lightyears away that we couldn't practically communicate with them. If the only thing we could practically get to them was a tiny space probe after countless years of travel, and there was only so much information we could fit on that probe, then I hope Los Frikis would be on there. I cannot think of a better example of human existence at its essence, including all the nasty things we do to each other, as well as the beauty we find in our lives.