Gigante
"When Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll unveiled their first feature, 25 Watts, in 2001, critics and audiences began to take notice of Uruguay's small film industry. That interest heightened in 2004 with their groundbreakingWhisky. Since then, a stream of new voices has emerged, many of them having worked on Rebella and Stoll's two features. On both the cast and crew lists of 25 Wattsand Whiskyare the names of filmmakers that the Festival has subsequently showcased, including Manuel Nieto Zas (TheDog Pound, 2006) and Federico Veiroj (Acné, 2008). The latest filmmaker to appear from this community is Adrián Biniez, who makes his feature-directing debut with the fresh, laugh-out-loud funny Gigante. Played by Horacio Camandulle, Jara is a heavy-metal-loving security guard who works the night shift in a supermarket on the outskirts of Montevideo. Jara is a subdued soul with a taste for teenage pastimes, despite his thirty-six years. He leads a dull existence, whiling away the time at work by filling in crossword puzzles and listening to hard rock, and moonlighting weekend nights at heavy-metal clubs. Life takes a big turn for Jara when he falls in love with Julia (Leonor Svarcas), a cleaning woman at the supermarket. The affair begins with him watching her on the closed-circuit security camera network, then following her outside work and getting caught up in several hilarious situations. This voyeuristic gentle giant becomes an unexpected guardian angel for Julia and those around her. Meanwhile, tension increases at work as the supermarket lays off staff. Confronted by reality, Jara is finally moved to action and must decide if he wants to live this romance or remain a spectator. Biniez effectively uses cameras as a voyeuristic thread throughout the film. This unexpected romantic comedy combines sublime moments of tenderness and vulnerability with evocative reflections on dull jobs. Offbeat and original, Gigante reflects on the possibility of change and hope...
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Gigante (2009) is an eccentric film about the period of time before meeting the one you have fallen for. Calling it a love story would not do it justice; I call it a "pre-love" story, with drama and some comedy put in the mix. It is simple yet extremely well acted and directed movie that could have easily been uninteresting given the subject matter. The cast and crew pulled it off by making a truly memorable film.
Jara is in his mid 30's and loves hardcore rock and enjoys playing video games with his nephew. Always wearing a Biohazard or Motörhead t-shirt, black cargo pants, and army boots he walks the streets of Montevideo following Julia while trying to balance his interest in her while not being aggressive. Great music along with the sites and sounds of the city fill the void when little talking takes place.
He first saw Julia through the security cameras at a large grocery store where he is a guard and she works in the janitorial department cleaning up the store overnight. Unaware of Jara or his infatuation for her she goes about her days. Through his walks and persistent watching he learns more about her and finds things he made need to do to better himself to have a chance and a few things they could have in common.
Jara's life and job become at risk when his determination to know more about Julia come to a head. While watching her one night at work he sees her go with another man she has laughed with at work into an area of the store without cameras; he can not take not knowing! This sometimes scary but possibly sweet simple man must decide his next move. He has followed her to her house, cinema, internet cafe, and even on a date with another man (he follows the guy also). Has he become a stalker or is he still the guy that anonymously left a flowering cactus for her in an isle at work?
This is the most realistic story of a relationship I have ever seen. The situations he gets into will certainly make you feel his uncomfortableness that we all have felt when trying to engage another person we like. A perfect time to introduce himself to her passes by when he hides behind a wall at a club he is a bouncer for when she tries to get in without having the cover charge.
8 out of 10 - Spanish with English subtitles - If you enjoy a good visual story with well developed characters and a look at real life this film is for you. It is available for pre-order from Amazon for its February 2010 release.
Dain Binder
www.dainsmoviereviews.comSeptember 27, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. UTC
dbin78 on Gigante