Film Reviews / Jul. 20, 2021
Today, we, here, at GagaTai bring you a captivating yet heart-wrenching short film all the way from Mexico, the prestigious winner of the Best Narrative Short Film category at the 2013 Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival, A World for Raúl by the indepdent Swiss-Mexican narrative filmmaker, Mauro Mueller.
(Source: GagaOOLala)
Watch A World for Raúl on GagaOOLala
In the film, a thirteen-year-old Raúl (played by Alexandré Barceló) goes to visit their landlord with his father who is a farmer in Mexico. Unexpectedly Raúl reunites with his childhood friend Herńan (played by Adrián Alonso,) and the two of them begin to reminisce about their childhood and pick up what they left off. Soon enough, they figure out that a lot has changed between them since they last saw each other. To make things worse, Raúl is then asked to entertain Herńan, who happens to be the son of the local landowner, thereby starting a game of power and pride between the two boys from different social classes.
(Source: GagaOOLala)
Although the film is only 15 minutes long, A World for Raúl nevertheless demonstrates a high level of production and as polished maturity in its scriptwriting. From its onset setting, props design to the costume department, every element in the film are perfectly prepared and delicately designed. Every detail in the frame allows the audience to notice how the two protagonists’ lives went separate ways and the distance between them is beyond their imagination. It also points out the gap between urban and rural areas and socioeconomic class issues in Mexico.
(Source: GagaOOLala)
Herńan has been living and studying in the city for three years. He starts to feel superior about himself and despises everything from his undeveloped rural hometown. He asks Raúl to play drinking games with him and forces Raúl to swim despite he doesn’t know how to. In the end, he even threatens Raúl to take off his underpants only because he’s the son of his father’s landlord.
(Source: GagaOOLala)
An involuntary sexual experience forces Raúl realize the true face of the world. It ironically also brings to question his father’s dignity and the injustice they face because of their class divisions. Just like that, Raúl is no longer the innocent kid that played soccer. He has finally come of age and this is skillfully demonstrated via the last dialogue between Raúl and his father as an indication towards one bidding goodbye to a heart-breaking youth. It is plain and simple but somehow very powerful and profound. A world for Raúl is definitely one of our favorite queer short films of all time.
