Stars: Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla
Storyline
Armando, a middle-aged owner of a Caracas dental prosthesis business, is estranged from his father, who he observes occasionally from a distance. He finds a young man of the streets who negotiates a fee high enough for the boy to be used to provide Armando's masturbatory object. Although a following encounter ends in a beating for Armando, he continues to make the boy dependent. What is the final result that Armando desires? Is it something more than a conflicted relationship with a hustler?
Writers: Lorenzo Vigas, Guillermo Arriaga, Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla, Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla, Catherina Cardozo, Jorge Luis Bosque, Greymer Acosta, Auffer Camacho, Ivan Peña, Joretsis Ibarra, Yeimar Peralta, Scarlett Jaimes, Ernesto Campos, Marcos Moreno, Armando Volcanes, Jesús Las Rosas, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Alfredo Castro -
Armando
Luis Silva -
Elder
Jericó Montilla -
Amelia
Catherina Cardozo -
Maria
Jorge Luis Bosque -
Fernando
Greymer Acosta -
Palma
Auffer Camacho -
Mermelada
Ivan Peña -
Yoni
Joretsis Ibarra -
Deysi
Yeimar Peralta -
Yerlin
Scarlett Jaimes -
Yuli
Ernesto Campos -
Kleiber
Marcos Moreno -
Manuel
Armando Volcanes -
Padrino quinceañera
Jesús Las Rosas -
Roca
Country: Venezuela, Mexico
Language: Spanish
Release Date: 3 Jan 2015
Filming Locations: Caracas, Venezuela
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 8/10
'Desde Allá' (From Afar) slowly and carefully brings you into the world
of Armando, a wealthy loner who spends his free time coercing Caracas
street gang youths to go back to his apartment so he can enjoy their
company while pleasuring himself. He finds Elder, another street youth,
who he runs into trouble with at first, but eventually end up bonding
to the point that their relationship becomes physical.
In terms of both Armando and Elder's chemistry, it's nothing to rave on
about. Because they are such opposites, it's easy to see how they
clash, but that's as far as it goes. It's more of a strange encounter
because they are such different people, especially Elder, who starts
off the film as being vehemently homophobic but oddly changes after
some time with a very limited showing of affection and care.
The film, which recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film
Festival, goes about its storytelling by long tracking shots or
stationary frames that have a lot happening inside of them. Very little
dialogue is exchanged, but looks and actions speak louder than words in
this picture. While it keeps the suspense a bit on the up, others might
want consistent dialogue, which this film doesn't have.
The film should be praised for several things: talking about a taboo
subject in a country like Venezuela, and showing the issues that are
happening in the country, which includes the long lineups for basic
necessities and consistent criminal activity.
Without writing spoilers, what really makes this film is the ending.
It's fairly open- ended, and it's a bit shocking to say the least.
During the TIFF Q&A, Directory Lorenzo Vigas was rather inquisitive of
the audience, trying to find out what they thought the ending was
about. Not all films should provide the necessary answers for the
viewer, but good films allow for interaction and further
interpretation.
On a further note, this film was NOT selected by Venezuela as its Best
Foreign Film selection for the upcoming Academy Awards. I'm not sure if
this has to do with the topic. I haven't seen the actual selection
'Gone with the River' (Lo que lleva el río), so I can't comment.
However, it seems odd that this film, which is showing at several world
film festivals, and was in competition for the Golden Lion — and won —
was NOT Venezuela's official selection.
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