Por Las Plumas
★★★★
Dir: Neto Villalobos
(2013)
This sweet little story went remarkably unnoticed at this years San Sebastian and Toronto festivals but there is a lot of heart and soul in this brisk character study about a security guard who puts his career on the line when he buys a game cock. Part Aki Kaurismäki part Jim Jarmusch; Por Las Pluma is a perfect balance of melancholic comedy, paced out with a quietly wonderful performance from Allan Cascante as Chalo and a sly sense of humour from writer director Neto Villalobos.
Por Las Plumas isn't afraid to make you wait for Chalo's journey to reach it's simple yet satisfying conclusion; The lone security guard doing his rounds makes up the fair introduction of the film, with a sense of loneliness and wanting felt only through Cascante's body language and long face. His persistence with a local grocer finally pays off and he persuades him to sell a rooster which he obviously names Rocky. Chalo soon finds that not every is in love with the little fella as much as he is and he soon finds himself with out a place to stay. When Chalo begins to train Rocky for his first fight his workmate (Marvin Acosta) adds a fondness for Rocky to his list of interests which include, the bible, greek philosophy and trends in women's cosmetics.
First time director Villalobos crafts Por Las Plumas in such a quiet and unsentimental way adding an unconventional would be love interest in Sylvia Sossa's local Avon lady. It's sometimes laugh out load funny with Acosta at one point forced to use a page from the bible (not a good one obviously) as toilet paper. It's brilliantly effective in its slow pace which might put off casual cinema goers but in retrospect it complements the characters and the tone perfectly. Even in a scene where Chalo runs to find a lost Rocky, it some how feels so laid back and peaceful a film. This is such a wonderfully told and original tiny story that its simplicity of plot and dialogue may do it an injustice on paper but it's full of purpose and warmth. I herby challenge you not to fall in love with Chalo and Rocky. At least a little bit.
