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"Relevance Is A
Moving Target" |
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Directed by Fernando
Eimbcke - Written by
Fernando Eimbcke
Starring Daniel Miranda,
Diego, Catano, Danny
Perea, Enrique Arreola
Distributed by Warner
Independent -
2006 - 90mins - Rated R |
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Adulthood is a moving target. |
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I'm not sure I've ever
seen a foreign film like "Duck Season."
Now, that's not necessarily a high compliment, but neither is it an
insult.
On the contrary. "Duck Season" is really just a goofy little film that
happens to be a Spanish-language film. It has nothing particularly
brilliant to say, but it's the kind of film that remains almost
impossible to not watch.
In many ways, "Duck Season" ("Temporada de patos" in its native
tongue) reminds me of a Jim Jarmusch film. There are two basic
differences:
1) In a Jarmusch film, there's typically a hidden meaning, an
existential thought process that permeates the dialogue and somehow
connects it all. In this film, writer/director Fernando Eimbcke's
whole point seems to be the absence of pointed thought. In "Duck
Season," it's not really about the journey or the destination...it's
more about just showing up and giggling or fighting or just dealing
with whatever happens. It's, in fact, perhaps better stated as a cross
between Jarmusch and Samuel Beckett.
2) The flip side is that Jarmusch is, quite often, too dry and too
stagnant for many film viewers. In "Duck Season," you will laugh and
you will have emotional experiences. They simply won't really mean
anything.
The film centers on two young teens, Flama (Daniel Miranda) and Moko
(Diego Catano). These young boys plot out a happy Sunday of video
games and pizza and coke. These scenes, played out, are simple. We are
watching, quite literally, two best friends hang out on a lazy Sunday
afternoon playing video games.
The action shifts when the electricity goes out, and the young boys
are left to find other sources of fun. Then, we are introduced to Rita
(Danny Perea), a 16-year-old neighbor who knocks on the door begging
to use their oven.
Without ever losing the film's precious charm, Eimbcke pieces together
scenes with Rita and the young boys that are sweet, sensitive, a touch
flirty and sometimes innocently awkward.
The final player in this play without purpose arrives in the person of
a pizza deliveryman who refuses to leave when the young boys dispute
his arrival within the guaranteed thirty minute delivery time.
With all the players introduced, "Duck Season" becomes a series of
moments randomly ordered without any apparent rhyme, reason or
purpose. I suppose it is possible to find significant meaning in "Duck
Season." I am, in fact, a master at finding meaning in most any life
experience.
Yet, the way "Duck Season" approaches its lessons is more reminiscent
of watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." In fact, had "Ferris" focused
more on the Alan Ruck's character Cameron, the film might've played
out much like "Duck Season." By the end of "Duck Season," the lessons
ultimately come from the everyday goofy experiences that kids have.
Yet, Eimbcke never condescends to the kids. The experiences these kids
are having may very well be pointless and random, but they are
genuine, everyday moments in life for these kids.
"Duck Season" practically did a sweep of Mexico's Ariel Awards in 2005
and has been a fan favorite at numerous film festivals for its unique
approach and the quirky charm of its characters. Perea, in particular,
is a revelation. She seems best able to build a bridge for her
character from the pointless to the perceptive and the meaningless to
the profound.
As the pizza deliveryman Ulises, Enrique Arreola brings to mind the
frenetic energy of Roberto Benigni's Oscar acceptance speech along
with Benigni's innocence and sweetness.
Both young leads perform nicely here, and their chemistry makes it
completely believable that the two boys could spend such a Sunday
afternoon together.
"Duck Season" is filmed in a sharpened black and white. This approach
suits perfectly the very plain tone that Eimbcke takes throughout the
film. The film's production design is simple and effective, including
a score by Alejandro Rosso that accompanies the action nicely.
"Duck Season" is ridiculously rated "R", mostly for language, pot
brownies and mild sexuality. There's, quite literally, nothing in the
film that most 14-year-old boys don't deal with on a daily basis.
"Duck Season" is a good film that isn't really striving for greatness
but still manages to nearly get there. It's a pointless film that
celebrates the joy of pointlessness to the point that there's nearly a
point to it all.
"Duck Season" is unlikely to be anyone's favorite film, but Eimbcke,
in his feature film debut, has created a film of unique vision and
character. It may be hard to find, but "Duck Season" is worth hunting
for. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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