Thehibikiew
Not even bad in a good way
Smartorhypo
Highly Overrated But Still Good
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Observant Human
Official release I got today from a normal movie rental agent has HARDCODED subs and I speak Spanish. It's jarring to try and watch a movie and have the dialogue in *GIANT* letters in English. The fact that English and Spanish word ordering and grammar are light years apart doesn't help that concept one bit. Why do a Spanish movie that is hard to enjoy in the Spanish language?Nice cinematography, for the most part, but WHY on the jarring subs?Interesting story, pretty camera work for the most part.Munged up by not giving me an option to turn off subs.Good story, questionable execution. I'm going to see if I can get a Spanish language version to watch.
adoniel
There are a number of excellent films about children available. This is a new one, and certainly merits attentions. It is a very moving study of the lives of children who every day face a very harsh reality. These children work in the silver mines of Potosi, Bolivia, famed for the terrible acts of depredations perpetrated on the Native Americans by the Spanish colonial powers. This is both a wrenching study of kids willingness to do what must be done to survive as well as a fantastic statement about their strength and hope. Thanks to the film and the notoriety that went with it and the support of child advocacy groups, the story has a happy ending. If you saw and were impressed by such films as Death in Gaza or Promises, which also depict children suffering at the hands of adults in today's world, you will be equally moved by this one.
Spuzzlightyear
This movie tells of families who have no choice but to send their kids to work for the family because the father is either dead, or who knows what. In this case, we meet two kids, Basilio and Bernandino, aged 14 and 12, respectably, who, because of their father's death, now have to work in the mines to support the family, namely their mother and their infant sister. So off to the mines they go, making of course, next to nothing. SOMEHOW, the kids make enough money to send Basilio to school, who amazingly is teased because he works in the mines, Soon, another mining position opens up, but Basilio has to go farther away..OK, we've seen this type of documentary before, (EG kids forced to work horrendous jobs!) but this doc gets points for making the mine one interesting character. The mine, Bolivians believe is controlled by Satan himself, and they must put up an effigy and offer it gifts in order not to die in the mines, which would really suck lol.
liepsj
I just saw this film at the Tribeca Film Festival and I was absolutely touched by the story and especially by the maturity and toughness of the children in it. My impression was that the audience also mostly loved it seen the reactions towards the directors afterwards and some quick looks at the voting bills. This documentary is about the 14 year old Bolivian Basilio Vargas who works in the horrifying silver mines of Cerro Rico. He and his brother have to do back-breaking and hazardous work with only $4 a day and the certainty of a quick death as reward. Folk myths in Catholic Bolivia tell that God cannot come into these silver mines. Therefore, to be sure of the required protection in the mines, the miners pray to the devil since he is the god of these dark, dangerous and hellish tunnels. The viewer is not only given a view into the consequences of this religious struggle but especially focuses on the total dependence of Basilio's poor fatherless family on Basilio's strains. This leads to heart breaking monologues from the lovable Basilio who also appears to be extremely well-spoken and has a great sense of responsibility and dedication. The footage shot inside the mines following Basilio left me speechless and with an incredible amazement on how one could even work there for a whole week, let alone 4 years. The images on the outside show a huge contrast with wide breathtaking views and mountains. These images however only occasionally reach the magical beauty of for example the south-American landscapes in The Motorcylce Diaries. Nevertheless a touching movie which filled me with great admiration for the heroic Basilio. 8 out of 10
