milomayr Reviews

Wer küßt schon einen Leguan? (2004)

simple, heart-warming movie about growing up in unfortunate circumstances

[7/10 · 15 July 2004]

"Wer küsst schon einen Leguan" is a down-to-Earth and true-to-life story about a kid growing up in an urban ghetto in Eastern Germany. It recounts the misery of a kid growing up with his single mother, who has enough trouble handling her life, and her dominant macho boyfriend. Badly mistreated in school because of his poor background, the kid hopes to get some respect by making his classmates believe that a neighbour, successful writer, is his father. The writer and the boy start making friends.

The storyboard is capturing, a little to romantizising at times. A simple, worthwhile and very heart-warming movie. 7/10

Lost Embrace (2004)

Wonderfully Argentinean

[10/10 · 9 April 2004]

"Abrazo partido" is a very subtle, true to life story about the middle classes in Buenos Aires after the economic crisis 2001. Those that have been to Argentina will undoubtedly recognize some of the beautifully stereotyped protagonists: the melancholic youngster, the budding bric-a-brac entrepreneur, the disillusioned pensioners recalling Argentina's glory days, the disrespected immigrant labourer. These characters make this idiosyncratic country, and indeed this movie, so likeable. Even the people's underlying optimism and the love for their country, which -in the light of Argentina's demise- may surprise visitors, shines through. I highly recommend the movie 9/10.