Carpinteros

Very engaging movie about survival in a squalid prison setting. Intense and deeply emotional. See it.

I was hooked!

'Woodpeckers' is a terrific prison flick. I do tend to like movies in such locations, you can create some good drama within such confines. This one is no different, it doesn't necessarily do anything spectacularly unique but it executes the storyline supremely well. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, made so thanks to some interesting subplots.

The acting is very good too. Jean Jean leads strongly, he is supported more than ably by Ramón Emilio Candelario and Judith Rodriguez Perez. The rest of the cast play their parts well too. The way the characters communicate for large periods is expertly portrayed, super well done. Their story comes up big at the end, I like the way they decided to go with the conclusion.

Quality viewing, in my opinion. Merits more eyes on it.

I'm reluctant to watch prison films, especially if they are 'realistic'. It is interesting to note that some countries with unimaginably horrendous prison conditions are able to come up with stories that are worth 'getting some on you'. This doesn't go as badly as others in terms of depredations. Do you like romantic films without the hyperglycemia factor? Here y'go. Filmed at the actual prison with inmates making up the supporting cast, the style is 'docu-fiction'.

I have always admired the work of José María Cabral, he is the most notable pioneer in Dominican Film industry. But this time he went full international and is awesome.

The filmography, the script, the actors, everything was quite awesome. At first you'll find some over acting, because it was actually filmed with real guards and some real prisoners (which is awesome in a way, because it takes to a reality trip.

No wonder it was the selection for best foreign language film by the academy. If you haven´t been able to watch it, go and do it. At some point you feel like is a documentary about Dominican Republic´s prison system, but while you are involved into the love relation that the two inmates have, is awesome.

The ending, unexpected; a bit predictable the last 20 minutes, but... still you want to make sure is true what you are expecting, because is like... "I think this is gonna happen, but it may go the other way around... I don't know, I will have to wait to the end".

Just watch it and know a little bit more of the Dominican outside the beaches and vacations. The reality of a third world country.

Wow. Just wow. What a great movie about prisoners in the Dominican Republic and how they use a self-developed sign language to communicate across fence lines. The stunning Judith Perez plays Yannely, who you really don't want for a girlfriend. Trust me on this. I can't decide if her performance or that of Jean Jean as Julian Sosa is the better because they are both brilliant.