Alamar

Alamar

Don’t walk. Run as quickly as possible to see this beautiful outstanding film. It has already won awards at 4 different film festivals. There is no violence. There are no loud noises. There is no anger. There is pure love of a father and son.

Apparently the mother and father had fallen in love on the beaches of this remote part of Mexico. For a while it was ideal. The child was born and both parents loved the child.

After a while the couple realizes that they are from different worlds and the mother goes back to Rome with her son. The picture shows the reunion of the father and son when the young boy returns for a summer visit.

It is a joyous reunion. I kept thinking he was going to have to give up this very basic existence and return to Rome. What a culture shock. That could have been sad but you know that the son had the most wonderful life experience possible

The father was a product of his environment. His hair was long. His body was thin and taut. He survived meagerly on the fish and lived in a very basic hut that was built on stilts in the water.

The father is so tender and loving. He teaches the boy how to survive in that environment. They go deep into the water and spear fish. They become friends with a white bird, Blanquita. They live off of the fish they catch. The grandfather, father and son all sleep in the one room shack. You see them most of the time in bathing attire. He teaches his son about the flora and fauna. He teaches him how to live in this environment and how to appreciate everything.

The cinematography was spiritual. The only color in the film seemed to come from the crystal clear water. Every camera angle and every frame was a work of art.

I was thrilled to read that the actors are a real father and son.

Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio is a documentary film maker. This is his first feature film. It is as if you are watching a documentary. Rubio wrote, directed, photographed and edited this wonderful film. It was so refreshing to be able to enjoy a film that was spiritually beautiful and aesthetically beautiful.

The film is currently playing at my favorite place in town, the TIFF Bell Lightbox. It was so exciting to see how busy the place was. Crowds were visiting the Tim Burton Art Exhibit. There seemed to be lectures and other events going on. Check the schedule. Some weekends include free activities for the family.