Ruben, a truck driver, begins a journey in Paraguay that will change his life. He has agreed to pick up a friend of his boss and brings her to Buenos Aires. Little does he know the woman will show up with a five month baby. Ruben is taking a truck full of logs in a trip that will take him into the heart of Argentina toward the capital of the country.
Ruben is at first skeptical of what he is going to do. He must go through the border customs, figuring the woman is going to Argentina to stay illegally, so he will only be compounding on the problem. Yet, albeit reluctantly, he decides to take her along. Jacinta, the passenger, tells the customs agent the baby has no father. She, like many of her poor fellow Paraguayans end up working as lowly pad maids in Argenine's households.
The trip does not start auspiciously. Ruben, who appears to be a solitary man, does not take well the crying of the baby, but to his credit, he does not complain. Figuring he made a promise, now he has to fulfill it. As the two ride in almost total silence, Jacinta, is a soothing presence in his otherwise solitary ride, something he must endures in his long distance travels. The baby, Anahi, is a cute addition. We get to know a bit of Ruben's past. He confesses of having a son whom he met when the boy was four, and have not seen him in eight years. By the end of the trip Jacinta has cast a spell on Ruben. He did not think he was going to be affected the way he did.
Pablo Giorgelli, the director of "Las Acacias" is a minimalist. There is almost no dialogues during the trip, and yet, a whole story comes out effortlessly. To his credit, the film has a rhythm of its own, keeping the viewer with the three occupants of the cab of truck. The director and Salvador Rosell created a plausible screenplay that has a good feeling because of the interaction, albeit subtle between Ruben and Jacinta. In spite of some negative comments to this forum, one never felt bored by the almost static setting and action in the film. Mr. Giorgelli creates an atmosphere of tolerance on Ruben's part and ultimately of acceptance and even tenderness at the end of the trip.
German De Silva, a character actor has great moments in the film by underplaying a role. This solitary man, accustomed to a lonely life, is rattled softly from his routine by accepting to take a stranger as a favor. Jacinta, played subtly by Hebe Duarte, compliments Mr. De Silva in unexpected ways. The cute baby, Nayra Calle, makes an adorable distraction.
Ruben is at first skeptical of what he is going to do. He must go through the border customs, figuring the woman is going to Argentina to stay illegally, so he will only be compounding on the problem. Yet, albeit reluctantly, he decides to take her along. Jacinta, the passenger, tells the customs agent the baby has no father. She, like many of her poor fellow Paraguayans end up working as lowly pad maids in Argenine's households.
The trip does not start auspiciously. Ruben, who appears to be a solitary man, does not take well the crying of the baby, but to his credit, he does not complain. Figuring he made a promise, now he has to fulfill it. As the two ride in almost total silence, Jacinta, is a soothing presence in his otherwise solitary ride, something he must endures in his long distance travels. The baby, Anahi, is a cute addition. We get to know a bit of Ruben's past. He confesses of having a son whom he met when the boy was four, and have not seen him in eight years. By the end of the trip Jacinta has cast a spell on Ruben. He did not think he was going to be affected the way he did.
Pablo Giorgelli, the director of "Las Acacias" is a minimalist. There is almost no dialogues during the trip, and yet, a whole story comes out effortlessly. To his credit, the film has a rhythm of its own, keeping the viewer with the three occupants of the cab of truck. The director and Salvador Rosell created a plausible screenplay that has a good feeling because of the interaction, albeit subtle between Ruben and Jacinta. In spite of some negative comments to this forum, one never felt bored by the almost static setting and action in the film. Mr. Giorgelli creates an atmosphere of tolerance on Ruben's part and ultimately of acceptance and even tenderness at the end of the trip.
German De Silva, a character actor has great moments in the film by underplaying a role. This solitary man, accustomed to a lonely life, is rattled softly from his routine by accepting to take a stranger as a favor. Jacinta, played subtly by Hebe Duarte, compliments Mr. De Silva in unexpected ways. The cute baby, Nayra Calle, makes an adorable distraction.