The Last Summer of La Boyita [DVD]

I only review the emotional aspects of the films and whether or not they are in my opinion worth watching. This film contains a mixture of emotions from a happy and carefree childhood holiday to a more sinister worry when things start to appear less than normal to a young girls new male friend. Shock comes abruptly when the young friend is helping his father with the cattle and I would not recommend this for family viewing. Horror at his fathers treatment of the boy when he finds out about an unusual problem the boy has. The girl innocently leads you through the film and it's story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, if left a little sad and wistful at the end. Subtitled in English.

This is one of those are films that does not come along very often, It tells the story of Jorgelina played with a maturity that belies her tender years by Guadeloupe Alonso. She likes playing with her older sister, but said sister has just reached puberty and no longer wants to be associated with little sister as she doesn't even wear a bra. It is set in 1986 and the boyita is the caravan Jorgelina uses as an escape. So summer holidays come around and instead of going with her sister and mother to the coast, she goes with her doctor father to their farm in the country. This is managed by a family she has known all her life and they have a son Mario (Nicolas Treise) who has dropped out of school and now works on the farm. He has also moved out of the farm house to live in the barn, where he wiles away the time carving animals out of wood and never being seen undressed. Whilst preparing his horse for the yearly race meeting, Jorgelina realises that he too is bleeding the same way her sister has started to, and so sets about helping him with the aid of medical books and then the professional touch of her father. What happens after will have a profound effect on all those concerned. This is beautifully acted, directed and produced; I have to say that as the exec producer is Pedro Almodovar. There are some brilliant touches that show the differences between country and town living in Argentina; I especially liked the pigs head cheese. There are also scenes of animal butchery that some may find off putting. I just felt this was a brilliant, compelling and very moving film, and considering the youth and inexperience of some of the actors, there is not a bad performance through out. If you liked `XXY' or `Tomboy' then chances are this will be one you will want to see - strongly recommended, in Spanish with good sub titles and at just over an hour and a half it doesn't out stay its welcome.

La boyita deals with a sensitive subject with noblesse oblige. Jorgelina, a nine year old girl who is just as annoying to her older sister as my sister was to me at times, also encapsulates the contradictions of life that enable her to be at the same time wonderfully caring and understanding when she discovers that a boy who works for her father has a serious and difficult to live with secret. This film, which employed a largely non professional cast, with a tiny crew, on an even smaller budget, manages to pull off what many big budget Hollywood productions have tried and failed. It has taken a painful and socially difficult issue and presented it in a believable and non judgemental way, and without histrionics or excess of drum-banging. Naturally and appropriately acted by all. I would though, have been interested to see more made of the Jewish element; Jorgelina's Judaism is only mentioned once.

Superbly acted by the young cast. Although some of the issues raised by the film are disturbing, this film should be seen by all, young or old. Excellent viewing.

did not enjoy this. lack of a good story line.

Will not play

OK I admit I was brought up modern western (west as not east rather than American) style and have an unhealthily detached from reality and anthropomorphic understanding of animals - but YUK way too real when it comes to animal slaughter etc. I have not been able to eat meat since I watched this film. Thought I'd best include a warning in case there are other softies out there. HOWEVER This is an eye opening child/naïve perspective on gender which is beautifully juxtaposed with the small town attitudes of some of the people 'caring' for the child, particularly the father. The story is told largely from the girl's perspective and has some lovely scenery and cinematography, I could feel the heat at times. I came away wishing I had the kind of integrity the girl in the film has.

My transgender teenager liked it.