A hopeful slice of magic neorealism set during Uruguay's Carnival, "A Dios Momo" is a frequently charming, if ultimately slight, coming-of-age tale.
Los Angeles-based writer-director Leonardo Ricagni (who helmed the English-language "29 Palms") met his central character, Montevideo paperboy Mathias Acuna, when he was making a documentary for UNICEF. Never cutesy or precious, Acuna is an endearing protagonist, a character who inspires kindness in everyone he meets.
After its world premiere at AFI Fest, "Momo" opens Nov. 18 on home turf. The film's repetitive narrative and lack of incident could make it a long shot for stateside pickup, but further fest exposure should be a given for this rare look at Uruguay -- in particular, the African-Jewish neighborhood of Montevideo, where the filmmaker grew up.
The film's titular god is the pagan deity of Carnival, who rules the land during Uruguay's 40-day celebration, the world's longest and a far less fevered affair than the familiar Rio extravaganza. At the onset of Carnival, Obdulio (Acuna), a good-natured 11-year-old who hawks the daily El Pais, encounters a figure in a spangled suit who leads him to the newspaper office. There, the effusive night watchman (Jorge Esmoris, the one professional actor in the cast), teaches Obdulio to read and write, offering heartfelt encouragement in lessons that eventually become the film's only misstep into sentimentality.
The film follows Obdulio on his nightly circuit: hanging out with best friend Rusito (Marcos de Costa), befriending and inspiring a Carnival troupe that has lost its touch and visiting a bar where he enjoys Coke and sweets on the house but always leaves when the proprietor (Canario Luna) urges him to go back to school. He's heard it before, from the loving, devout grandmother who is raising him. Obdulio dreams not of graduation but of becoming a national soccer star like Obdulio Varela, captain of the legendary 1950 World Cup team. Scenes of him and Rusito tossing the ball soccer-style have an exuberant beauty. Such offhand, lyrical moments are the heart and soul of the film.
Los Angeles-based writer-director Leonardo Ricagni (who helmed the English-language "29 Palms") met his central character, Montevideo paperboy Mathias Acuna, when he was making a documentary for UNICEF. Never cutesy or precious, Acuna is an endearing protagonist, a character who inspires kindness in everyone he meets.
After its world premiere at AFI Fest, "Momo" opens Nov. 18 on home turf. The film's repetitive narrative and lack of incident could make it a long shot for stateside pickup, but further fest exposure should be a given for this rare look at Uruguay -- in particular, the African-Jewish neighborhood of Montevideo, where the filmmaker grew up.
The film's titular god is the pagan deity of Carnival, who rules the land during Uruguay's 40-day celebration, the world's longest and a far less fevered affair than the familiar Rio extravaganza. At the onset of Carnival, Obdulio (Acuna), a good-natured 11-year-old who hawks the daily El Pais, encounters a figure in a spangled suit who leads him to the newspaper office. There, the effusive night watchman (Jorge Esmoris, the one professional actor in the cast), teaches Obdulio to read and write, offering heartfelt encouragement in lessons that eventually become the film's only misstep into sentimentality.
The film follows Obdulio on his nightly circuit: hanging out with best friend Rusito (Marcos de Costa), befriending and inspiring a Carnival troupe that has lost its touch and visiting a bar where he enjoys Coke and sweets on the house but always leaves when the proprietor (Canario Luna) urges him to go back to school. He's heard it before, from the loving, devout grandmother who is raising him. Obdulio dreams not of graduation but of becoming a national soccer star like Obdulio Varela, captain of the legendary 1950 World Cup team. Scenes of him and Rusito tossing the ball soccer-style have an exuberant beauty. Such offhand, lyrical moments are the heart and soul of the film.
- 11/8/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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