Verdict
Summary
little slice-of-life from filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke (who did another Spanish language coming of age film called Club Sandwich), Olmo is sometimes all too realistic and painful to watch, which makes it instantly relatable. At only 84 minutes, the film goes by quick, but it makes an impression for feeling like a based-on-real-life film. It’s just shows one day in the life of this family, but you get the sense that it’s like this every day for them. A well done little movie, Olmo may not be a “big” movie or have an especially “winning” formula, but it works.
Plot:
A humble Mexican American family struggles to pay the rent, and the 14 year-old Olmo has a memorable day and night of trying to impress a girl her has a crush on, while also trying to take care of his disabled father.
Review:
In New Mexico in 1979, a humble Mexican American family has an awful lot going on in their small rented home on a random Saturday afternoon. The matriarch mother runs around ragged trying to make enough money to pay three months’ back rent before they’re evicted, and the patriarch father is confined to his bed, unable to move, much less do simple things he used to be able to with ease. He requires constant assistance and supervision, which is humiliating and demoralizing for him and his two teenaged children Ana (Rosa Armendariz) and 14 year-old Olmo (Aivan Uttapa), a selfish and self-centered boy whose laziness and unwillingness to be helpful and understand around the house sometimes nearly upends his father’s health battles. When the mother is called in for a four-hour shift, she leaves her husband with her kids, expecting them to take care of dad, but Olmo gets invited by his cute neighbor to a party that evening down the road on the condition that he bring a stereo system, which his family has. He makes a deal with his (also selfish and self-centered) older sister for her to watch dad for the evening, but she has plans of her own to go skating with friends. Olmo and a buddy leave anyway, putting dad at risk, and he goes to the party, has a great time and almost gets laid for the first time, but then disaster strikes: Dad is rushed to the hospital, mom comes home to an empty house, and all hell breaks loose when Olmo realizes that everything is his fault. A happy ending gives us hope that this humble family will survive.
A little slice-of-life from filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke (who did another Spanish language coming of age film called Club Sandwich), Olmo is sometimes all too realistic and painful to watch, which makes it instantly relatable. At only 84 minutes, the film goes by quick, but it makes an impression for feeling like a based-on-real-life film. It’s just shows one day in the life of this family, but you get the sense that it’s like this every day for them. A well done little movie, Olmo may not be a “big” movie or have an especially “winning” formula, but it works. If you like this, see 2024’s Didi.
Kino Lorber brings Olmo to DVD, which is now available. It comes pretty barebones, but it does have some bonus trailers.
