Lima 2014 Review: REFUGIADO, A Truthful Account Of The Impact Of Domestic Abuse
In the film, young Matías (Sebastián Molinaro) arrives home from a birthday party, only to find his mother, Laura (Julieta Díaz) battered and bruised on the floor. The duo immediately flees across Buenos Aires, desperate to get away from their broken home, and the abusive husband, Fabián. Throughout their ordeal, Fabián is never seen, only heard on a telephone. Nonetheless, he remains a constant, threatening presence. This at times gives the film the urgency and feel of a thriller, except that Lerman's approach is ultimately much more subdued; Refugiado is meant to make you think rather than provide shocks.
The story is told from Matias' point of view, and it is an appropriately innocent one. At first, the boy can't fully grasp what is going on; he sees a prolonged stay at a women's shelter as a vacation, one where he can bond with his mother, play games and make friends with other kids in the same situation. A particularly effective moment contrasts one of his "playdates" with Laura tearfully recounting Fabian's abuse to a group of social workers.
This can't last, however, and soon our protagonist is forced to grow up and confront issues no kid his age should ever have to deal with. Matías could have easily fallen in to the trap of "Terminal Cuteness" -- a common one for child actors -- but the pint-size Molinaro handles himself like a seasoned pro; his sad, haunted eyes are those of someone who's been through more hardships than his age would suggest. It's a solid, lasting portrait of innocence lost. The actor is ably matched by Díaz, whose Laura is not about to confront Fabián and assert herself any time soon. This is a vulnerable woman at the end of her rope who can't bear the thought of seeing her marriage fall apart.
Just like in real life, there's no happy Hollywood ending or even a clear resolution to this tale, but it's not all grimness. There's hope that Matías and Laura will stick together and ultimately emerge as stronger people. Refugiado is a confident drama that shows the effects that domestic abuse can have on an entire family unit, both parents and children. By avoiding cheap melodrama and over-the-top histrionics, Diego Lerman has made a mature movie that at no point makes the viewer feel as if the movie is preaching to them.
The film premiered at the Lima Film Festival on Saturday, August 8, with a follow-up screening two days later. It will play two more times on August 14-15. For more information, visit the Festival's website.
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