Los jornaleros

Never expected to write a review about a film here, especially not one I had never heard of before renting it. It also takes a lot to impress me. But let me tell you, for a very small film, this one has it all.

Where to start? Well, the unknown actors were better than many of the A-list stars I drag out $8-$10 dollars to see every weekend. They were real, honest portrayals that touched me and made me believe in their humanity. And their strong sense of "family" was true and easy to identify with. The director is a gifted storyteller, with an ability to place the audience in the minds of the characters and let you "feel" right along with them. Production design was good, which I always find unusual for a film of this size. Even the music was first-rate. In fact, John Williams could take lessons from this guy on when to play music and when to have silence. There was a perfect blend here, which added to scenes but didn't overshadow them. I was continuously impressed by this film while viewing it and am surprised that you can still find stuff this good out there to watch.

What else can I say but to encourage you people not to miss this little gem. And RUN, don't walk, to the video store. Trust me on this one.