Paco (2009) Reviews

• Finding your place in life is not at all easy

  cristianandrei20072010-07-04

  This is a movie about life, about human nature, about drugs, love, poverty, temptation. Though Paco (a young man) is the central character of the movie, the other characters complete the picture - rehabilitating from drugs but more important rehabilitating as persons. I got several ideas from this movie: in the end you have to accept things as they are, you have to accept responsibility for your life if you want to go forward, we are not perfect - we are just humans, you can't escape from addictions but rather you can replace them with something good, the line between good and bad is not always so clear. The movie it's a drama, there are lots of sad scenes but what was important for me is that the end lives you with hope. There are some sex scenes in the movie and they fit perfectly in the story. Why should you see this movie? You don't have to. But if you encounter problems in your daily life (as we usually all do) it may help to see that you are not alone and also that you may reach a "floating" level.

• Boy interrupted

  jotix1002012-03-16

  Francisco, the son of an Argentine lady senator, falls prey to drugs. Meeting a cleaning lady from the building where her mother works, Francisco begins a spiraling journey as he develops an addiction to a drug called Paco, which also denotes Francisco's nickname. The powerful drug is used by people of meager source of income. It is dangerous, as well as addictive. The preparation of the drug involves leftovers of cocaine process mixed with powdered glass and rat poison. As Francisco is found on the outskirts of town, in a shanty town, he is being sought in connection with the bombing of a house where the drugs were processed. His mother, a powerful Ingrid Blank, who had no clue about her son's dependency on drugs is horrified. She begins researching clinics where to place Francisco. She chooses the institution run by Nina, a wise lady who is really concerned about what is happening to the poor kids in the city. Juanjo, her partner, is a man that follows the strict code of conduct, but who transgresses on a weak moment. The film was written and directed by Diego Rafecas. The narrative goes back through the use of flashbacks to give the viewer a simple way to learn as to how the present clinic population got there. The interesting thing is that even a powerful woman like senator Blank is powerless in the way her son is not given preferential treatment, a positive step in helping to cure him. There have been other, more successful films that have explored this subject with more success. The director has tried to show the horrors people have to deal with in order to sober up. Part of the allure for watching the film was the presence of Norma Aleandro, who is seen as Nina, the head and soul of the clinic. She has little to do since the action concentrates on the inmates. Luis Luque, a sweaty co-director, shows some humanity as he makes a tactical mistake. Esther Goris, with a severe haircut, plays Ingrid Blank. The young cast shows some of them will be going to better and brighter things in the not too distant future.