For me, this beguiling Panamanian comedy proved to be the crown jewel of a week of screenings at the Nashville film Festival. Abner Benaim, in his first commercial feature, has produced a no-holds-barred farce that is delightfully specific in its evocation of place and universally familiar in its socio-political relevance. He masterfully pushes our tolerance of what is comically acceptable with alternate uses for metal meat tenderizers and loaded weapons in the hands of children. The uncomfortable hilarity of these concrete moments is a justifiable exposition of the dark consequences of social inequity, venality and greed -- evils that know no national borders or half-life. Along with this universality of theme, the film's sophisticated production values, achieved on a budget that in Hollywood would barely cover craft services, could certainly allow this off-shore sub-titled project to succeed financially in northern hemisphere markets. Much of the film's quality must be credited to its fine cast. Aida Morales, with noble poignancy, and Rosa Isabel Lorenzo, apparently in her sole cinematic role, give brazen, perfectly tuned performances as the long-suffering servants in a corrupt politician's household. These besieged characters grab the horns of their dilemma and do not let go until success is achieved. And in very satisfying style, their menacingly wild choice manages to churn up providential outcomes for everyone. I hope this delicious morality tale gets the distributor it so greatly deserves.
4 Reviews
I don't speak a lot of Spanish
yelsinnestfort9 June 2021
But I still liked everything I watched, WoW with the turn in the movie these actresses got it. I'm watching it and all the expressions are telling me what I can't understand right away. Watch it for the times rich people get put to shame.
Amazing Movie Must See!!!
salbenhamoulev18 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Desperate situations
.calls desperate actions. When the Gonzalez-Dubois family refused to pay their maids their salary they decided that it was time to act. With the power of Justice they took over them to make sure to get what they worked hard to earn. This movie is a great example with a little touch of humor of the Panamanian High Class Society. It has the stereotypes that in fact are true. The typical housewife that is worried about the society's opinion, the daughters that are naive to their own world, the forgotten son that is cared more by the maids, and a political father that have his own dark secrets.
It is an amazing movie that shows the reality with a touch of humor showing the truth and the situations that some maids encounter with their bosses who abuses of them. I highly recommend this movie you'll enjoy it from the beginning to the end.
It is an amazing movie that shows the reality with a touch of humor showing the truth and the situations that some maids encounter with their bosses who abuses of them. I highly recommend this movie you'll enjoy it from the beginning to the end.
A vote for el candidato!!
guillermocedeno6 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Starring Cuban Francisco Gattorno as Fernando and Colombians Isabella Santo Domingo as Gloria and Aida Morales as Paquita, Chance is a slightly dark comedy that caricaturizes the kind of high class politician we have come to know and love throughout most of Latin America. He is El Candidato more for survival reasons than from vocation. He has to keep up his high-class profile and that of his family too and not let on it's a façade.
When Fernando fails to pay the maids' salaries, Paquita takes over the house and over most of the movie too. Most of the characters are believable, but as the maid and surrogate mother, Aida Morales' character is a key one and she delivers. The quaint suburban villa home and the City of Panama are backdrops for the action and we are treated to the ride, enjoying the contradictions of any tropical American nation in the throes of development. Judging from the laughter from beginning to end, Chance should be well received by Hispanic audiences anywhere. It is a merit to Abner Benaim and co writer Papus Von Saenger that this first of its kind offering to the world audience pays more homage to Groucho Marx rather than to Karl, as the cliché is too often the case.
Chance is the first Panamanian film with high production values geared for an international audience. It is Abner Benaim's first commercial feature. Its premiere was held in Panama three days prior to the release of Avatar and it held its own favorably well for several weeks against James Cameron's blockbuster phenomenon. I hope this is a good sign for its box-office performance throughout Latin America and the World.
When Fernando fails to pay the maids' salaries, Paquita takes over the house and over most of the movie too. Most of the characters are believable, but as the maid and surrogate mother, Aida Morales' character is a key one and she delivers. The quaint suburban villa home and the City of Panama are backdrops for the action and we are treated to the ride, enjoying the contradictions of any tropical American nation in the throes of development. Judging from the laughter from beginning to end, Chance should be well received by Hispanic audiences anywhere. It is a merit to Abner Benaim and co writer Papus Von Saenger that this first of its kind offering to the world audience pays more homage to Groucho Marx rather than to Karl, as the cliché is too often the case.
Chance is the first Panamanian film with high production values geared for an international audience. It is Abner Benaim's first commercial feature. Its premiere was held in Panama three days prior to the release of Avatar and it held its own favorably well for several weeks against James Cameron's blockbuster phenomenon. I hope this is a good sign for its box-office performance throughout Latin America and the World.
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