Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Esteros is about childhood friends, Matías (Joaquín Parada) and Jerónimo (Blas Finardi), living in a small town in Argentina. When Matías’ family moves away to Brazil, the boys lose touch with each other.
Now, as adults, Matías (Ignacio Rogers) is a biologist living in Brazil with his girlfriend, Rochi (Renata Calmon), and Jerónimo (Esteban Masturini) is a special effects artist.
When Matías visits the small town where he grew up with Rochi for Carnival, they decide to attend a costume party as zombies. Rochi hires Jerónimo to do their makeup not knowing that he and Matías were childhood friends. And as the two men reunite, old feelings rise to the surface, along with the truth about their sexual awakening.
Some Thoughts:
Esteros is a subtle and sweet film about love, identity, and acceptance. The story unfolds in two time periods, Matías and Jerónimo as adults and as children. Director Papu Curotto weaves the two stories together in a way that adds mystery and depth to the plot. The acting overall is good, especially Parad and Finardi, who play the main characters as children.
As adults, Matías and Jerónimo dance around each other, making it obvious that there’s something more to their friendship. And since Matías has a girlfriend, his sexual identity isn’t clear. This brings a bit of mystery to the story, which slowly comes to light as the past is slowly revealed.
The film is beautifully shot and has some quiet moments full of emotion. It also captures the innocence of youth with tenderness and precision. And the two stories of the past and the present mesh together so well that there’s never a dull moment.
Because the story is simple and I don’t want to give away any spoilers, there’s not much more I can say. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to discuss, it’s just that the interesting parts involve revelations and plot twists.
My only complaint with the film is that the end seems a bit too easy. It doesn’t ruin the movie, but it could have been better.
The Final Verdict:
Esteros is a well-crafted film about childhood friends who lose touch with each only to be reunited years later. It’s beautifully told, engaging, and has some fine acting.
