Cannes

Acne

 (Uruguay - Argentina - Spain - Mexico)

By ALISSA SIMON

Familiar themes get a fresh spin in well-crafted coming-of-ager 'Acne,' an assured feature debut from Uruguayan writer-helmer Fernando Veiroj.

A Control Z Films (Uruguay)/Morocha Films (Argentina)/Rizoma Films (Argentina)/Avalon Prods. (Spain)/Goliat Films (Mexico) production. (International sales: Rezo, Paris.) Produced by Fernando Epstein.
Directed, written by Fernando Veiroj.
 
With: Alejandro Tocar, Yoel Bercovici, Julia Catala, Gustavo Melnik, Belen Pouchan, David Blankleider, Laura Piperno, Veronica Perrota, Igal Label, Leonor Svarcas.

 

Familiar themes get a fresh spin in well-crafted coming-of-ager "Acne," an assured feature debut from Uruguayan writer-helmer Fernando Veiroj. Low-key serio-comic drama about a 13-year-old Jewish boy adjusting to bad skin, raging hormones and dysfunctional family builds on his prizewinning short "As Follows." It also displays influence of the Control Z production team responsible for 2004 charmer "Whisky." Although not as droll as that Pablo Stoll/Juan Pablo Rebella fest hit, enjoyable "Acne" nails the uniquely self-involved atmosphere of adolescence. Sure to see plenty of fest action, it should satisfy the niche arthouse and broadcast markets that ordered "Whisky."

Even though protag Rafael Bregman (Alejandro Tocar), known as Rafa, glumly realizes that freckles are forever and his bad case of pimples only temporary, he's suffering from low self-esteem and not where he wants to be. As pic starts, he loses his virginity thanks to a deal his older brother strikes with a willing housemaid. Ironically, he still hasn't kissed a girl, a desired intimacy he becomes obsessed with.

Narrative unfolds via a series of vignettes gradually detailing Rafa's upper-middle class life, including private school, piano and tennis lessons, and cosmetology treatments. As the short scenes of his daily existence repeat with small visual changes, they accrete meaning and poignancy and allow Veiroj to exploit situational humor.

Like randy teens the world over, Rafa and best pals Andy (Igal Label) and Rony (Yoel Bercovici) spend a lot of time thinking and talking about sex. Amusingly (albeit atypically), they also patronize a small brothel where the remarkably patient whores treat the boys as serious clients. Following examples of their fathers, the lads also privately drink, smoke and gamble.

Egged on by his big brother and more confident, smooth-skinned buddies (whose advice he records in a small notebook), Rafa makes a play for pretty blonde schoolmate Nicole (Belen Pouchan), who's obviously way out of his league. Her not-unkind rejection leads to the greatest (though still restrained) burst of emotion on display in this (purposefully) emotionally understated pic.

Clever choices by Veiroj make sly script stand out from others in the genre -- but then it's not exactly designed for a broad youth aud. Where most coming-of-agers build up to intercourse, that's where he starts. Likewise, adolescence usually provides an excuse for big, noisy emotional displays, but here passions refreshingly remain on low boil.

While managing to tap into universally recognizable teen awkwardness and misery, the enjoyable youth perfs are delicately stylized with a soupcon of Aki Kaurismaki deadpan. Curly-haired, wide-eyed Tocar makes Rafa something of a mope at school but no slouch at caging money off his divorcing parents.

Outstanding but understated lensing by Barbara Alvarez leads a superb production package.

Camera (color), Barbara Alvarez; editor, Fernando Epstein; music, Adrian Biniez & Federico Deutsch, Los Fatales, Europe, Daniel Yafalian; art director, Gonzalo Delgado; costume designer, Adelaida Rodriguez; sound (Dolby Digital), Catriel Vildosola. Reviewed at the Cannes Film Festival (Directors' Fortnight), May 18, 2008. Running time: 87 MIN.