The Rumble of the Stones - powerful and psychologically relevant

The seventh Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival (ttff) runs until October 2. Guardian columnist, BC Pires, has been writing about film since March 1988. He served on the first T&T Film Festival jury in 2009 and will pick a Film of the Day for every day of the festival. Today’s choice is: The Rumble of the Stones (Alejandro Bellame Palacios/ 2011/ Venezuela/ Drama/ Spanish with English subtitles/ 100 mins) 6 pm MovieTowne Port-of-Spain. Q+A. The Rumble of the Stones must be a leading contender for the ttff’s Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker, if only because it could easily have been the Best Trinidad & Tobago Film Made in Spanish. (It is actually eligible for Best Caribbean Film under ttff rules.)

 

 

 

Set in Caracas, the film recounts the story—and the plight—of a single mother raising two sons in a poor neighbourhood. The younger son, still doting and dependent upon the mother, is unquestionably on the straight and narrow path, helping deliver the meals the mother cooks after hours to subsidise her meagre income from a chicken processing factory; the older son, though still in his teens, is already a confirmed outlaw. Now, where in the world does that sound like? 

 

 

The Rumble of the Stones is not simply interesting from a psychological and relevant from a sociocultural viewpoint, though: it is dramatically very strong, with the narrative underpinned by a pivotal backstory that is brought together in the denouement so well it almost becomes American-slick, but, thankfully, remains South American-authentic. Though it is only his second feature, this is a powerful, entertaining film from a director clearly going places. The amazingly good lead actress, Rossana Fernandez Diaz, will take part in the Q+A directly after the screening. If possible, also see The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song at 8 pm at the Little Carib, a frontrunner for the Best Documentary prize. Director Christy Garland will take part in a Q+A.

Best of the rest: The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song 8pm Little Carib Theatre Q+A; Botched Up 8.30 pm MovieTowne POS; Trusting Rain 1 pm MT POS; Within Walls 5.30pm MT Tobago. Films start promptly at advertised times.

 

Today’s FILM selections