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Posted: Tue., Sep. 4, 2007, 3:11pm PT

Venice

Cochochi

(Mexico)

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An Alcove Entertainment, Canana Films, Buena Onda Americas production, in association with Canada World Cinema Project, Instito Mexicano de Cinematografia. (International sales: Ondomax Films, Miami.) Produced by Pablo Cruz, Donald Ranvaud. Executive producers, Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Robert Bevan, Cyril Megret, Robin Fox, Amina Dasmal, Parviz Yazdani.
Directed, written by Israel Cardenas, Laura Amelia Guzman.

With: Antonio Lerma Batista, Evaristo Lerma Batista.

"Cochochi" follows two boys from northwest Mexico's Raramuri tribe as they run an errand for their grandfather and thereby learn some life lessons. Attenuated, simplistic tale grew out of writer-helmers Israel Cardenas and Laura Amelia Guzman's extended contact with the region's indigenous people. Shot so as to capture every remnant of local tradition and every stunning landscape, pic has a stiff, stagy feel, its energy level further sapped by amateur thesps who frequently seem uncomfortable in front of the camera. Pic's main market is fests where auds have a sort spot for this sort of thing.

After an elaborate graduation ceremony at their elementary school, the brothers (played by real-life siblings Antonio Lerma Batista and Evaristo Lerma Batista) arrive at their grandfather's ranch. When he sends them to bring medicine to a relative in a distant canyon, bolder, more disobedient Tony insists they travel by horse. Naturally, the boys get lost, lose the horse, and lose each other. Before they join up again, thanks to the local radio station's message broadcast service, they have separate adventures in neighboring villages.

Camera (color, DV-to-35mm), Cardenas, Guzman; editors, Cardenas, Yibran Asuad; music, Cardenas. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (Horizons), Sept. 3, 2007. (Also in Toronto Film Festival -- Discovery.) Tarahumara dialogue. Running time: 97 MIN.

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