by Cookie N Screen
When you're younger, I always feel that you're split into three categories. Well, I did anyway. On one side was the popular group, who excelled at sports and socialising, listening to dance music and ruling schools. Then there were the nerdy crowd, who read comics and criticised television shows, showing a particular flare for tests and science. And then there the 'cooler kids', who could play instruments and rock out in a band. I remember shifting through the latter categories, sometimes staying at home and studying and the other times, watching bands and going to rock parties.
When you're younger, I always feel that you're split into three categories. Well, I did anyway. On one side was the popular group, who excelled at sports and socialising, listening to dance music and ruling schools. Then there were the nerdy crowd, who read comics and criticised television shows, showing a particular flare for tests and science. And then there the 'cooler kids', who could play instruments and rock out in a band. I remember shifting through the latter categories, sometimes staying at home and studying and the other times, watching bands and going to rock parties.
We Are Mari Pepa is a charming independent film coming from the heart of Spain. Set in Guadalajara, the sun soaked summer swelters as teenage lives goes through pivotel changes in this coming-of-age tale. Directed by Mexican Samuel Kishi Leopo, the film centres on the days of Alex as he and his friends set about in their band of the titular kind. As Alex navigates his life with many different emotions, he must also balance that of the needs of his elderly grandmother, who is against his lifestyle and choices. When things heat up and passions collide, Alex must learn about growth and adulthood.
If you’ve watched enough teen dramas and coming of age independents, We Are Mari Pepa offers nothing new. Feeling in a similar vein to that of films such as The Way Way Back, We Are Mari Pepa is a hazy drama that uses the slow draw of summer as an earnest plot device. Playing in garages, attending parties and throwing jokes (and insults), Leopo has truly captured the charm of the city that isn’t exactly original but sparks with this likeability.
If you’ve watched enough teen dramas and coming of age independents, We Are Mari Pepa offers nothing new. Feeling in a similar vein to that of films such as The Way Way Back, We Are Mari Pepa is a hazy drama that uses the slow draw of summer as an earnest plot device. Playing in garages, attending parties and throwing jokes (and insults), Leopo has truly captured the charm of the city that isn’t exactly original but sparks with this likeability.
It helps that lead Alex, played by Alex Gallardo, is a wonderful character to invest our time in. As he levels the popularity and his friends, as well as the passion for his punk music and band, he must also face responsibility looking after his sick grandmother. He tackles the loss of interest in the band from his friends, the theft of his guitar and the clash of musical tastes and Gallardo plays them enthusiastically, realistically and wonderfully well. As tensions rise high and the beautifully acted, increasingly unwell grandmother fears for her grandson (played wonderful by Petra Iniguez Robles) and the evils of “rock” music, Alex finds himself battling against the world and it is alarmingly beautiful.
As mentioned before, there are moments of greatness here but the story falls into a lot of similar plot falls as dramas before hand. Combining handheld footage and stripping back a lot of dialogue, it may smatter of films done before. But the charm of Gallardo and his subsequence character Alex, pull We Are Mari Pepa into a rather poetic if not beautiful movie, especially with the depth of his care for the grandmother. Plus, the music is insanely good for a small garage rock band. It is worth a watch this summer as you recount fond memories of youth.
We Are Mari Pepa is screening as part of the East End Film Festival. It will show 18th of June at Rich Mix.
As mentioned before, there are moments of greatness here but the story falls into a lot of similar plot falls as dramas before hand. Combining handheld footage and stripping back a lot of dialogue, it may smatter of films done before. But the charm of Gallardo and his subsequence character Alex, pull We Are Mari Pepa into a rather poetic if not beautiful movie, especially with the depth of his care for the grandmother. Plus, the music is insanely good for a small garage rock band. It is worth a watch this summer as you recount fond memories of youth.
We Are Mari Pepa is screening as part of the East End Film Festival. It will show 18th of June at Rich Mix.
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