Trémulo (2015) Online

it defines this special film in a splendid manner. because it is just a friendship story. precise, touching, seductive. a soldier, a boy and a barbershop. and a meet who seems change everything. because it is portrait of memories and fascination. about an afternoon, a night and an early morning defined by gestures, words and looks. and, after its end, front to the fragments from a kind of old fashion story, the only regret is to expect something else , scene by scene. this, maybe, is the virtue of the script and the mark of the gift of director - to ignore the comfortable/well known tricks for have audience. it is a story. a simple story. about past and the future. together. or, just, about the beauty of life. about generosity. and about the splendor of friendship.

Set in Mexico City, this story could have taken place pretty much anywhere in Latin America (or the US 40+ years ago). A "small town", hard-working kid away from any family to speak of gets his validation through the work he does, and he sees his tips as a testament to that. A stranger, claiming to be a soldier comes in and has an immediate attraction to the kid and decides to come back later to spend time with him. The time they spend together will make most viewers (myself included) uneasy, as it looks like this may turn out to be a very mercenarial situation, as the soldier could easily take advantage of the kid...which is what it appears he intends to do. Not only until the end do we see the soldier's true intentions, and the full scope of the kid's innocence. The film is masterful in that it does not come off as an apology for pedophilia (yes...unfortunately, these films do exist) but rather a display of what the smallest act of kindness and affection, and the effects it can have. Both the soldier and the kid almost appear to be each other; the soldier seeing himself in the kid at his age and the kid seeing the soldier as someone he would like to be. I'm just extremely grateful the writer did not see the need to cross any boundaries/lines for shock-value to make this point: which is why I think this is an incredibly touching short-film worth watching.

I don't think I've ever given any film 10 stars but after having watched this short severl times now, I can't give it any less. The acting is superb, understated but poignant at the same time. The script is simple and to the point. The dialogue is minnimal. The ending leaves the audience with the promise of more and the hope that it will be something really good and beautiful. Excellent film!

Trémulo ....another shortie from Mexico, written and directed by Roberto Fiesco. 150 votes on IMDb. Glad to see it made it to DVD, so now people can see it! Opens in a barber shop. The barber has gone for the day, but a soldier leaving on a long assignment wants a good shave. The barber's assistant gives him a shave, which turns into a water fight, and then even more. Some big twists and turns here. Just when you think you know where its going, it doesn't! Very cute. Why haven't more people seen this ? Hope they do. Part of the TLA DVD "Mexican Men". only 20 minutes long. Stars Benny Emmanuel and Axel Arenas. I'd like to see more works from Fiesco. Definitely recommended.