ICEBOX

US, 2018, 88 minutes, Colour.

Anthony Gonzalez, Matthew Merano, Omar Leyva, Genesis Rodriguez.

Directed by Daniel Sawka.

Icebox is a brief film, well worth seeing, especially because of its theme of illegal refugees from Central America, the response of American authorities, detention, trials and hearings. And this has more impact because at the centre is a 12-year-old boy from Honduras.

Originally, Icebox was a short film, winning awards, written and directed by Daniel soccer. And, with this feature film, two years later, he has been able to amplify his story and characters.

Interestingly, the film was released in the second year of the presidency of Donald Trump who had declared war, so to speak, on illegal refugees from Central America, urging the building of the wall. And, in these years, quite a number of children were detained, separated from their families.

Oscar is 12, is seen initially as being taken by local gangsters, attached to an branding on his chest identifying him with the gang. He escapes. He is pursued. His loving parents arrange that he get to the American border, cross it and meet up with his uncle in Phoenix.

This is a short film and the first part shows the difficulty of the journey, concealing the refugees, their buying what they might need from a shop at the border, ladders over the fence, bicycles to write to freedom. However, Oscar’s bike has a flat tire and he runs, quickly being caught by the authorities.

The second part of the film shows him in the Icebox, the detention centre, in with a great number of boys are varied ages, cold, lined up, not allowed to talk to journalists… However, they are allowed to make their phone calls but Oscars uncle is too afraid to respond.

There is some leniency with Oscar allowed to stay with his uncle, prepare for a hearing, having the aid of one of the journalists who had visited the detention centre (Genesis Rodriguez).

All the time Oscar has been trying to hide his branding, discovered by the boys and his being despised, his uncle being shocked to see it. The courtroom scene is quite harrowing, simultaneous translation, Oscar with headphones, the judge asking harsh questions, Oscar becoming more and more upset.

With Oscar deciding to escape rather than return, his uncle finds in a refuge in California. Perhaps only a temporary solution? One hopes.

1. The topical theme, refugees from Central America, illegal entry, walls, guards, centres for refugees, especially children?
2. A Honduras story, the family and their house, the local school and the teacher, the gangs, forcing children into the gangs, the tattoos and branding them? The consequences? Oskar and his escape, coming to see his friend at school, the shooting, is fleeing? The family organising him to go to his uncle in Phoenix? The sadness of the farewell? The phone calls, the hopes of the family to get to the United States eventually?
3. An immigrant story, the American border? The group of refugees, buying help at the shop, going in the van, night, climbing the fence, the bicycles? The warning against the authorities? Oskar, the puncture in the tire, the smuggler wanting him to return to work for him? His running away, hiding? Trekking through the desert, the authorities finding him, his running, their trapping him, biting the guard, taken to the centre?
4. Oskar, age 12, experience and inexperience, the blend of naive and the worldly-wise? At the centre, the officials interrogating him, his story? The promise of a trial? The phone calls, leaving the message for his uncle, his uncle not returning the calls?
5. The range of children in detention, the varying ages, the boys older and bullying, the friendship with Raphael, conversations, the bullying, the cold, the shoulder at night? Raphael and his weeping, his background in Colombia, the execution of his brother? Oskar not willing to reveal the truth about himself?
6. The visit of the journalist, the boys lining up, their behaviour, the warnings of the authorities not to speak? Oskar and his phone call, Perla and her standing near him, the conversation, her giving him the card? His later ringing her, requesting her to help, her stating she was a journalist, but making contact with the uncle, getting information for articles from Oskar?
7. The shower sequence, Oskar and his fears, tantrum, the revelation of his branding, the reaction of the other boys, ostracising him, Raphael and his hostility? Oskar eventually explaining?
8. The documents, the trial, his being given to the custody of his uncle, his uncle in the car, fearful, scared of the authorities, wanting an eventual green card? Taking Oskar, the bunk in the room, his work, Oskar in the fields and his uncle urging him back? The discussion of the documents? The uncle eventually signing? Fears of exposure from the other workers?
9. Going to the trial, the shirt, tie, his uncle waiting outside, in the court, the call, the interpreter and the headphones, questions by the judge, yes and no, Oskar answering, the issues of violence, the gangs, Oskar upset, taking the headphones of, the insistence by the judge? His being condemned? Going out, to the custody of his uncle, his uncle upset, explaining his situation? Oskar wanting to run away?
10. The solution, phoning his family in Honduras, his uncle in the connection in California, Oskar going there for protection, work, unable to go to school which was his desire?
11. The finale, on the bus, looking at the school children, the school buildings, and the audience wondering about Oskar’s future?