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COCHOCHI
Mexico, 2007, 87 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Lerma Batista, Evaristo Lerma Batista.
Directed by Israel Cardenas and Laura Amelia Guzman
Cochochi is a Mexican film, from a young Mexican director working with a young director from the Dominican Republic. They filmed in the language of the Mexican Indians of the area where the story is told.
The film is rich in detail of life in this part of remote Mexico. The film is one of feeling and sentiment, focusing on two young brothers, one who is interested in action and adventure, a love of horses. The other is more scholarly and is hoping for a scholarship. The film shows them on a trek, trying to recover a horse which was swindled from them. The adventure is at times life-threatening, hard for the young boys to be away from home and make their way through the countryside.
A film of great feeling and insight into Mexican Indian life. A Signis award winner in Buenos Aires 2008.
1. The regional film making, the local language, actors, amateurs, picturing the customs and way of life?
2. The focus on children, their perspectives, in education, at home, challenges of responsibility?
3. The Chiwawa Mountains, the villages, school, farms, the canyons and waterfalls, the fiestas? The musical score, the local songs?
4. Audiences identifying with the children, a film for children, for adults?
5. The introduction to Evaristo and Tony, playing games at school, fighting, their different attitudes towards schooling? The graduation, Evaristo’s success, Tony getting a scholarship, his not going to the ceremony, watching with his friend Nacho? The differences between the brothers, age, personalities, study, relationship?
6. The importance of regional radio, the transmitting of messages?
7. The mission to their relative, taking the medicine, talking with their grandfather, wanting to take the horse, his caution, their riding together, through the scenery, getting lost, unable to cross the river, the meeting with Lewis, the tying-up of the horse (and Evaristo worrying about the potential for the horse to be strangled)? Upset at the horse being gone, thinking that Lewis had stolen it, their walking, getting lost, thinking what their grandfather would say, trying to think of stories to tell him?
8. Evaristo and the meeting with the young man, going to the school in the rain, taking the bus, his talk on the radio, their discussions, Evaristo’s message, meeting with Tony?
9. Tony and his meeting with the girl, the fiesta, the bets, accusing Lewis, the discussions, hearing the message from Evaristo, the going together to the school, getting wet?
10. The grandfather, the return home, the horse having made its way home? Responsibilities and truth?
11. The final scenes at school, Tony going with the horses, Evaristo taking Tony’s place with the scholarship, his smile and delight for learning?