Pellet (2000)

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Excellent but underrated film

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

El Bola is a dramatic film directed by Acero Mañas, that tells the story of a twelve year old boy named El Bola, who is raised in a violent and unforgiving environment. This movie was released in New York City, on December 13, 2002 and is considered one of Acero Mañas' best films to date. As a result of Mañas' success, his movie won four Goya Awards that includes best film, best emerging director, best original screenplay, and best emerging actor. After watching this amazing film, there is no question as to why this film received so many awards and has become a favorite for many viewers. Pablo a.k.a. "El Bola" is a twelve-year-old boy who suffers abuse from his father. The reason he is called El Bola is because he carries a gold ball-bearing in his pocket for luck. However, due to his unfortunate circumstances it is possible that his ball-bearing actually represents stability and some protection given that he lives in a very vicious household. His violent family situation prevents him from having friends at school until the a new kid, Alfredo, arrives at his school. The warm, caring atmosphere in Alfredo's family juxtaposes Pablo's oppressive situation under his father. With the help of Alfredo, Pablo finds a different reality in his new friend's family who teaches him to confront with courage his worst fears.One of the key themes that this movie expresses is the breaking of the traditional family stereotypes. Many people believe that maintaining a traditional family is the correct way to live. However, I think that this movie opposes this idea. For example, in the movie there are two different families that live two completely different lifestyles. Pablo's family, although on the outside appears very traditional and normal, is actually filled with violence and hostility. Technically, Pablo's family does fit within the typical roles of a traditional family, that atmosphere and the relationships are very dysfunctional, but mostly violent. This family contrasts Alfredo's family, who most people would believe is more of the problematic family due to their carefree lifestyle and more rebellious appearance. Alfredo's father, José, is a tattoo artist and has many tattoos himself, along with his wife and Alfredo. The family is not religious and is very accepting with homosexuality, considering many of their friends are gay. However, as the film continues many family scenes show that they are more healthy, educational and possess a better family relationship than Pablo's family.

The first 20 or so minutes of this film didn't engage me very much. Other than think that many of the kids were idiots (as they played a game like Chicken with oncoming trains) and cursed too much, I really didn't think much one way of the other. However, as the film continued, the plot took an unexpected twist as you learn that the title character (a kid who looks to be about 11 years-old) is being seriously abused by his god-awful father. The violence he inflicts is amazingly realistic in one scene and so this film is provisionally recommended. While it was very well made, children and people who were victims of child abuse probably should not watch it--and I could see the film instigating flashbacks of abuse. However, aside from this warning, the film is well constructed, extremely well acted and engaging. You really can't stop watching after a while because it really hooks you. See this film--just think twice about who you ask to watch it with you.

One of the criticisms lodged against this moving film is that towards its end the actions of the adults are not believable. I actually found it very believable. The best friends' parents are advised that if they do not either return the abused boy to his parents or go to the police they could be accused of kidnapping, or even worse, the father could say that when his son left the house he was fine, and it was they who inflicted the marks on his childs' body. shocking and unjust as this may seem, the reality is - and, as a victim of child abuse, i feel quite qualified in saying this - that even though the law states otherwise, children are often powerless to fight abuse. For instance: once when I was beaten by my stepfather I ran to the police station and told them what had happened. The police called my parents, asked them if what I was saying was true, my staepdad told them i was making up stories, that i had fallen off my bike and was lying because I was angry about having to do my homework. The police took me home and I was promptly beaten for almost getting him into trouble. So... in Pellet, the best friends fathers fears of legal repercussions for intervening were actually, in my opinion, justified.

Great film. You'll recall classics like Truffaut's 400 BLOWS. There are scenes of such warmth and such brutal stillness, it made me want to reach into the screen and affect the course of these characters lives. A lot of assumptions I made about these characters were challenged along the way. It's rare that a film actually teaches you something about yourself. Phenomenal cast and director who deserved the Best Director and 5 Goya (Spanish Oscars) the film received. El Bola's abusive father was played to a perfect pitch by Manuel Moron as a cold, abusive father, turned sheepish when the outside world learns of his transgressions against his own son. You want to strangle him! Turns out it was a Spanish indie underdog that upset a lot of larger, bigger Spanish films. Like the other reviews say, be prepared to laugh, cry, and become infuriated. Definitely a film to check out and a director to watch!!!