TOGO

Uruguay, 2022, 93 minutes, Colour.

Diego Alonzo, Catalina Arrillaga, Jose Pagano.

Directed by Israel Adrian Caetano.

Audiences do not usually see films from Uruguay. Here is an opportunity.

It is a brief film with a narrow focus. Togo, the title character, is an elderly man, living on the street, a former boxer, a friend who is wheelchair bound. Their job is to organise the entry, parking, exit of cars in their particular zone. Togo is a sympathetic character.

There are two main complications. A young woman, Mercedes, dosses down in his area, depressed. And she offers to work in parking the car is but makes a mess of her initial attempt. It emerges that she comes from a wealthy family, not appreciating her mental condition, her leaving. Ultimately, Togo persuades her to go home.

The other complication is drug dealing in the streets, in the particular areas, controlled by a boss who is wealthy, controls clubs, has young workers on the streets selling the drugs. Eventually, they confront Togo, attempts to bash him, but he with his skills, getting the better of them. There are also threats to Mercedes. And, ultimately, the confrontation with the boss.

Familiar material, but a sympathetic central character and an opportunity to look at something of urban life in Uruguay.

1. Audiences not seeing films from Uruguay, an opportunity to see facets of inner-city life?
2. The city setting, the open places, the secluded areas for sleeping rough, the streets, the parking zones? The musical score?
3. Togo himself, his past as a boxer, his age, his friendship with the man in the chair, their work in parking the cars, guiding them? The tips? Survival? The friendship, the man in the chair and his having to withdraw, Togo and his visit? Looking after his own?
4. The various zones, Togo observing the drug dealers, intruding into the zones, the threats, the fights, Togo and his boxing past, able to confront the young men?
5. Mercedes, intruding, the encounter with Togo, his care for her, her wanting to guide the traffic, betting, failing to control the traffic, yet his letting her stay, her sleeping rough outside? The revelation about her wealthy family, the scenes at home? Her depression?
6. The drug dealers, their personalities, their boss and his nomination, his way of life? The contacts, moving in, treatment of Mercedes, treatment of Togo?
7. The confrontation, Togo and his fight, the boss and his underlings?
8. Togo urging Mercedes to go home, her return to her family?
9. A slice of life, on the streets in Uruguay, a portrait of a veteran old man?