Duck Season
Duck Season is a story about the fuzzy, seemingly undefined period from childhood to adulthood. It features 3 young actors about 15 years old, and one other who is supposed to be about 21. The film takes place almost entirely in the upper floor apartment of Flama. He lives there with his soon to be divorced mother and father. He is a red haired boy of 14. (There is a funny scene involving his red hair later on in the day.) His mother leaves for the day and leaves Flama (Daniel Miranda, feature-film debut) with his friend Moko (Diego Cataño). Armed with pizza money and an X-Box, the boys are destined for a great day of boyishness.
Not too far into this the neighbor girl Rita (Danny Perea) of about 16 comes over to borrow the oven. Hers is broken. Around this time the power goes out and the movie takes on a life of its own. What do three teenagers do when they are bored beyond their initial expectations?
The heart of the movie consists of these three, and an eventual fourth, doing what any bored teenager might do. Get creative. Between baking, talking about which parent Flama should go live with, Rita having to redo every recipe she’s tried due to intermittent power outages and poor cooking skills, to shorting the pizza delivery guy because he was 11 seconds late from his 30 minute guarantee, these kids dream up some very creative diversions.
In addition to conversations about sex, growing up, college, ducks, X-Box contests, and indoor target practice on family heirlooms, these kids illustrate how much destruction can take place in one house filled with teenagers. Most of the conversation is directed by Rita and Ulises (Enrique Arreola). Ulises is the hapless pizza guy who gets stiffed. He tries to win his fee back by an X-Box contest that has a funny conclusion.
The film is shot effectively in black and white. The first minute of so of the film sets the tone of boredom and aimlessness that the kids experience. The cinematography is also clever and effective. The aimlessness and near pathos of these characters is enhanced by the filming method. Another highlight scene shows all four kids discussing a painting of duck season. This is the focal point of current division between mother and father—who gets what. Flama gets one thing. The picture was in a closet for years before it was hung and now his parents are fighting over its possession. He sees through that charade.
Director Fernando Eimbcke wanted to capture the searching and longing of adolescence. In my view he did. I was impressed with the thought as I left the theatre that he successfully filmed engaging boredom. He introduced us to the long journey of an adolescent Sunday afternoon and kept us glued to our seats. An admirable feat, I’d say!
There is so much in this film that I don’t want to divulge much. It is not an action film and to describe much of the storyline would ruin the effect. Too much description weakens the freshness and ad-lib properties of the movie. This is a film to be experienced with a minimum of knowledge beforehand. It is very refreshing. It’s thought-provoking, insightful, and good art.
Not too far into this the neighbor girl Rita (Danny Perea) of about 16 comes over to borrow the oven. Hers is broken. Around this time the power goes out and the movie takes on a life of its own. What do three teenagers do when they are bored beyond their initial expectations?
The heart of the movie consists of these three, and an eventual fourth, doing what any bored teenager might do. Get creative. Between baking, talking about which parent Flama should go live with, Rita having to redo every recipe she’s tried due to intermittent power outages and poor cooking skills, to shorting the pizza delivery guy because he was 11 seconds late from his 30 minute guarantee, these kids dream up some very creative diversions.
In addition to conversations about sex, growing up, college, ducks, X-Box contests, and indoor target practice on family heirlooms, these kids illustrate how much destruction can take place in one house filled with teenagers. Most of the conversation is directed by Rita and Ulises (Enrique Arreola). Ulises is the hapless pizza guy who gets stiffed. He tries to win his fee back by an X-Box contest that has a funny conclusion.
The film is shot effectively in black and white. The first minute of so of the film sets the tone of boredom and aimlessness that the kids experience. The cinematography is also clever and effective. The aimlessness and near pathos of these characters is enhanced by the filming method. Another highlight scene shows all four kids discussing a painting of duck season. This is the focal point of current division between mother and father—who gets what. Flama gets one thing. The picture was in a closet for years before it was hung and now his parents are fighting over its possession. He sees through that charade.
Director Fernando Eimbcke wanted to capture the searching and longing of adolescence. In my view he did. I was impressed with the thought as I left the theatre that he successfully filmed engaging boredom. He introduced us to the long journey of an adolescent Sunday afternoon and kept us glued to our seats. An admirable feat, I’d say!
There is so much in this film that I don’t want to divulge much. It is not an action film and to describe much of the storyline would ruin the effect. Too much description weakens the freshness and ad-lib properties of the movie. This is a film to be experienced with a minimum of knowledge beforehand. It is very refreshing. It’s thought-provoking, insightful, and good art.
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