“Damned Old People” (“Viejos Malditos”)
(Ecuador/Argentina)
Screened at the 41st Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival (5/5)
Letterboxd (4.5/5), TMDB.com (9/10)
Shown with:
“Arranca” (short) (4/5)
(Puerto Rico/USA)
Letterboxd (4/5), TMDB.com (8/10)
To most of us, an inconsolable loss is something from which recovery may often be next to impossible. The pain and anguish can be unbearable, especially when they’re piled on top of existing challenges and a legacy of disappointments. The elderly are particularly susceptible to these effects, as is the case with eighty-something widower Elias (Jaime Bonelli), who struggles to find a reason to carry on after the death of his wife. With his health failing, his finances in a freefall, his home in a shambles and his outlook on life being one of perpetual anger, the cantankerous senior reaches his last straw when he’s beset by the constant overnight howling of the neighborhood’s combative cats. Much to his surprise, though, one of the belligerent felines, a stubbornly affectionate tomcat, takes an undeniable liking to Elias, despite his longstanding and widely known contempt for pets of all kinds. However, given the animal’s loving persistence, he crawls his way into Elias’s heart. They become best buddies, providing the old man – who names his adopted new friend Simon – with a renewed outlook on life. Elias resumes taking care of himself, his house and his money matters, not to mention the well-being of his four-legged pal. (Think of this as like a latter-day “Harry and Tonto” (1974).) But, for various reasons, not everyone is agreeable with the changes in the old man’s ways, including his son (Danilo Esteves) and next-door neighbor (Poén Alarcón), circumstances fraught with consequences that can bring out the worst in those “damned old people.” This impressive debut feature from writer-director Xavier Chávez is a flat-out winner across the board, one that skillfully combines moving drama, ample heart tugs, dark comedy and macabre, chilling suspense with a seamlessly blended concoction of twists and turns sure to send one on a rollercoaster ride of emotions right up to the final shot. The gripping, heartfelt performance of Bonelli in his final film role will touch viewers in many ways, likely prompting frequent grabs for the hanky (so keep it handy). And then there’s dear Simon, who’s sure to work his magic on audiences as easily as he does with Elias. Admittedly, the opening act drags slightly in spots, but that’s more than made up for by what follows, a thoroughly engaging film that otherwise succeeds in virtually every way imaginable.
Coping with the conditions of aging and loss is a theme present in the film short accompanying this feature. Director Liliana M. Molina’s debut production, based on her own family circumstances, follows the challenges of Laura (Cristina Soler), the long-suffering adopted daughter of Carmen (Johanna Rosaly), her elderly mother, who’s in the early stages of dementia. Laura diligently endeavors to help her ailing mom, especially in her often-volatile dealings with her kindly caretaker, Norma (Magali Carrasquillo), the latest in a string of providers who have found Carmen to be too much to handle. In particular, Carmen routinely accuses Norma of various wrongdoings, such as theft of her belongings, allegations that Laura generally attributes to her mother’s failing faculties (and that, thankfully, Norma brushes off without hesitation). But is Carmen’s mental decline everything it appears to be? As this delicious little film shows, with age comes wisdom, and that’s something that may not vanish as readily as everyone might think.