RAISING VICTOR VARGAS
US, 2002, 88 minutes, Colour.
Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Alta Gracia Gusman, Silvestre Rasuk.
Directed by Peter Sollett.
Give this small-budget, independent New York film a few minutes. It begins with the vain 16-year old Victor thinking that he is the macho gift to women, that this is how he ought to be. The rest of this short film is about who Victor really is under the poses and the bravado. And the film and the characters grow on you so that at the end you have a real feel for them, for their situations and struggles. It is a film of considerable humanity.
Writer-director Peter Sollett set his film in his own Brooklyn area but transferred it to Lower Manhattan after he met possible cast members. He chose amateurs who wanted to work hard in the film and let them improvise much of the dialogue. It works very well. Besides Victor, there is his younger brother, Nino, and his couch potato little sister, Vicki. They are being raised by their grandmother who migrated long ago from the Dominican Republic. Victor is infatuated with Judy and their up and down relationship is the centre of the film. There is Julie's tubby younger brother who wants to be friends with Vicki and there are the peer friends.
There is nothing particularly new in the film. What is pleasing is the way that it is made and communicates. Brothers Victor and Silvestre Rasuk are very good as the brothers as is Altagracia Guzman as the grandmother with her old world values, her exasperation at her grandchildren (even trying to send them away through local social services) but loving them just the same.
1. The first film of the writer-director? Its impact? Small budget, style, content?
2. The use of Lower Eastside New York locations, the streets, homes, ordinary life there? The musical score, songs?
3. The Hispanic atmosphere, the Dominican Republic background of the characters, English and Hispanic overtones, the history of the people from the Dominican Republic, their religious background, customs, moral perspective?
4. The amateur actors, their skills, improvisation?
5. The opening with Victor and Donna, the focus on Victor, his self-centredness, macho, age, experience? Victor as he thought he ought to be? His friendship with Harold, going to the swimming pool, focusing on Judy, Carlos and his arranging the introduction to Judy? Victor's talk, bravado? His discussions with Judy, taking her home, the drink, sitting on the bed, showing her his room? The lipstick on the glass? His discussions with Nino, asking about girls, his advice? The continued clashes with Vicki? The importance of his relationship with his grandmother, her looking after them, the photos on the mantelpiece? The initial anger with Vicki about telling everyone about his being with Donna, throwing the phone out the window? His grandmother bringing it back, her anger?
6. Victor at home, his sharing the room with Nino and Vicki, his curtain for privacy? The discussions with Nino, Nino playing the piano? His discussions with Harold and finding out about his relationship with Melanie?
7. The grandmother, her character, principles, looking after the children, raising them, providing a home for them, listening to Nino play the piano? Her seeing Carlos and her immediate reaction? Nino and the masturbation, her being upset? Their having to pack, going to social welfare, her explanation of the situation? Social welfare not being able to do anything? Their having to go back home, her being upset?
8. The effect of this on the children, their apology, decision to try? The meal, Victor inviting Judy? Judy making good impression, the lipstick on the glass, grandmother and her finding the other glass and confronting her? Judy leaving?
9. Victor and his following Judy despite his grandmother's warning, the apology, in the glasshouse, just being himself with her? Their discussions, being comfortable with each other, being real?
10. Judy at home, her relationship with Carlos, the reasons for her saying she had a boyfriend, trying to protect herself? The discussions with Melanie about her relationship?
11. Harold and Melanie, the discussions, the relationship, being comfortable with each other, taking things off, the sexual encounter, telling their friends?
12. Vicki, fat, watching TV, eating? Carlos and his friendship, talking, her reserve? Giving her the phone number? The grandmother ousting him? The grandmother locking the phone, Victor persuading her to unlock it, Vicki ringing Carlos?
13. The portrait of young characters, older characters? Seen in their context?
14. The insight into Victor, a boy, transition to manhood, bravado, macho expectations, the image that he wanted to project, coming to terms with who he really was?
