Sadly Over-hyped

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

As the Activities Director I shared this beautiful film with the residents in the ALZ/Dementia community I work in. I remember having seen this film several years ago and enjoying it. Out theme this month has been on World Oceans so I thought Alamar might be a soothing and sweet film for them and even their caregivers to watch and enjoy. For the ease of following the story line better, my staff used english subtitles dubbed in english. They seemed captivated and enjoyed the scenery, beautiful peaceful village by the sea and a simpler way to live. Sweet 3 gen male relationships enjoyed on our Fathers Day weekend.

«Alamar» is a film about difference, cultural difference, different points of view, and different approaches to life. It is also a film about education, learning the simple principles on which humankind rests upon, learning the beauty of nature and its manifestations. Combining both concepts, «Alamar» is also a film about a different education, that necessary complement to schooling we have been deprived of, as lost as we are in modernity, urban settings and artificial life styles. Every sequence in the movie consists of lessons of life and nature a Mexican father gives to his little son, born from a romance with an Italian woman and who is about to move to Europe with his mama. Little Natan goes where his father Jorge lives in Banco Chinchorro, the second largest coral reef on planet Earth. Fishing, swimming, diving, learning about species of plants and animals, eating fresh sea food (which tastes so good and different from that flavorless frozen sea stuff we buy in supermarkets), all that is lived and learnt from his father and his surrogate grandfather. The sequence involving the African egret they call Blanquita is quite revealing of Jorge's persona: he teaches young Natan how to approach and "befriend" a wild animal. Jorge seems so in atonement with nature that animals are not afraid of him, as also seen in a deleted scene with a hermit crab. Without a plot full of gimmicks to keep our attention and just with an invitation to sit and watch, «Alamar» is a highly recommendable, moving and fascinating observational documentary.

The unconditional love of a father for his young son is paramount in Pedro Gonzales-Rubio's cinematic tone poem, Alamar, a lyrical film of rare natural beauty. Set in the Banco Chinchorro, the largest atoll in Mexico and the habitat of hundreds of different species, director Rubio's 73-minute part fiction and part documentary film is imbued with a love of the sea and respect for the environment. According to the director, "By photographing and developing a story based on the current relation between man and his habitat in Chinchorro (declared in 1996 a Natural Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO), I intend to portray my love for this region and the admiration and respect I have towards the lives of its fishermen." Though the young boy, Natan (Natan Machado Palombini), will soon leave for Rome, Italy to live with his Italian mother Roberta (Roberta Palombini), she agrees to let him spend time with his father Jorge (Jorge Machado), a spear fisherman, but it will not be for an extended stay. "We'll be gone for a while, and when we come back, you'll go with Mommy," he tells Natan sadly. Jorge lives with his own father, Matraca (Nestor Martin), in a house built on stilts in the middle of the water and their simple life is in harmony with nature. Together they show the young boy the way to reel in a fish, how to spear lobster and barracudas, and how to scale and clean fish for consumption.Initially seasick, Jorge holds Natan lovingly until his sickness disappears and they are free to navigate the luminous blue-green waters. Together, Jorge, Natan, and Matraca dive under the water where, according to a travel guide for the Costa Maya region of Mexico, "the diving is spectacular with large blue sponges, many fish, turtles, sea walls full of life, and a clear sunlit scenario that includes many sunken ships." What soon becomes evident, beyond the simple satisfaction in life that they experience, is the bond between Jorge and Natan that develops between sleeping in hammocks, drinking strong coffee, and engaging in playful wrestling matches. Natan's new world is far from the challenges of living in a big city. Here there are no I-pods, cell phones, or high-definition TV, only the stark beauty of unspoiled nature.Important lessons about life are also learned. Natan has his first experience of loss and impermanence when the white bird they named Blanquita which they have been feeding every day, suddenly disappears. Alamar is a hypnotic and poetic film that is a welcome change from the never-ending assembly line of films about social dysfunction of one kind or another. An ode to fatherly love, it is a poignant reminder of the phrase of the Roman poet Ovid who said, "Everything changes, nothing dies." Joy turns to tears, which again turns to joy in an endless cycle, yet, though circumstances change, love is a constant that endures.

It is so easy to criticize this film that I won't do it. I mean, say things like 'involuntarily looking at someone's holiday pictures', 'no storyline whatsoever', 'failed comparison of nature vs city life' (where's the city life?), 'glacial pace', 'eco-rubbish', 'an inverted beauty and the beast' and you're probably right. Me, I'm just glad I was already divorced before I got to see this film. If I had gone to the theater with the x-Mrs, she'd be off about five minutes into the film, only to reappear about three months later. We'd then have the following conversation:'Where have YOU been?''Away. Don't look so angry. I can do as I please, can't I?' 'Well, if you pay for it yourself.''See, that's how you do it, always playing on your power. That's pathetic, really.' 'I hear you went to Mexico.''No I didn't. It's not your business anyway.''Your friend Julia showed me a postcard you sent her. Rather it was a photograph of you and some guy who seemed familiar to me.''That's no business of yours. How dare you invade my privacy!''I didn't. I didn't exactly ask to be shown that picture. Anyhow, what were you up to? Also, you're not pregnant, are you?''How can I be, if you won't sleep with me?''How can I, if you're off to Mexico? Now will you please tell me what went on?''I can't, I'm frightened and I think you're going to hit me. I'm off to the women's lib!'I'm lucky to have gotten off without financial consequences. That was money well spent, on that expensive lawyer. Anyhow, if you'll excuse me. I have just decided to switch my genes to gay mode. I'm off to some island somewhere, to spend the rest of my life fishing, drinking moonshine and getting a nice tan. The gay stuff is a bit repulsive, but I might get used to it. I mean, I used to get used to a woman, how bad can it get?Goodbye.(to those who think this is not a film review: 'Alamar' is a film about the child of an Italian woman and a Mexican fisherman. The film is no more than a series of shots of life in Mexico. The man is extremely good looking, very athletic and tanned and, well, attractive. The film really focuses quite heavily on his physical features, which contrast rather starkly to those of the woman. From here you can go back to the beginning of my review.)