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Reviews
Paraíso B (2002)
The lives,the deeds,the dreams,'the paradise' on the outskirts of Santiago.
'Paraíso B' is the expression, or at least a glimpse into the 'paradise' some people in the suburbs of Chile get a chance to see. In middle of poverty and cheap porno, horse-gambling seems the only way out. At least for a while. The plot centers around the loser-lifestyles of these beings where as a character sentences at the beginning of the film: 'We were born here and we will die here'. The plot slightly fragile circles this endless sea where betting on horses IS the only way out or at least a starting point to leave any place else but there: a place where prostitutes, mob gangsters,drinking and pot-smoking on an empty swimming pool is the average endless day.The death of the prime characters' grandmother brings back from Miami the lost-love of Leo (played by Juan Pablo Ogalde)- Gloria (played by Leonor Varela)who as a teenager was forced to do sexual favors for 'track-money'. Now she comes back to everything she hates and has left aside from her past. Back home she sees nothing's really changed but the love for Leo...when a bad deal is made at the tracks, hell unleashes: his brother is sentenced to death by 'el Jefe'(a twisted old man into bondage)dragging Gloria and her past to present. But Pablo is given a second chance to do the right thing and regain his lost love and look for a way out of the suburb. Although the film is consisting some failures may be found in the sound production but the script and acting as well as the story line is very effective. Writter/Director Nicolás Acuña recreates the reality of the outskirts of Santiago, their lifestyles and aspirations with great realism.Not bad but could've gone much further in the filmaking...still waiting for his next outcome.
Karel Jorge Bosaans.
Sangre Eterna (2002)
An eye-popping-blood-spilling horror film till now.
Sangre Eterna (Eternal Blood) is not just a great horror-vampire film. To look at it that way would be not only shallow but unsubstancial. Chilean young Writer/Director not only displays a quantum leap from his first feature film Angel Negro (Black Angel)but also gives a contemporary look to the everlasting theme of vampires. The plot is basically the story of M (Juan Pablo Ogalde) and friends who devote their time mostly playing a role game of vampires called Sangre Eterna, then Carmilla (Blanca Levin)comes into M's world not only as a lover but as a new player of the game too.As time goes by they encounter a dark and mysterious owner of a semi-demolished goth house who invites them to assist their parties and gatherings. Soon M finds out that these people are not only goth freaks like them but somthing more terriffing and ancient and that vampires not only exist in their role game but in real life too. Jorge Olguin brings new airs to the chilean cinema scene with a 'pure blood' genre movie which was never done before, adding to the mix state-of-the-art special fx and prosthetics (also never done before in these latitudes)with great performances (specially the one that displays J.P. Ogalde as M)and sound design (made by Chilefilms with 3d dolby surround systems)...as a result you get a real good-blood shedding modern vampire tale, that revists the theme in a unique way with low budget and high visuals. A MUST-SEE for gore/vampire lovers, although it is not a film that is among the masters Dario Argento or the late-gone-million dollar budget, Sam Raimi.
Karel Jorge Bosaans.