As a Colombian living abroad, I often seek movies that allow me to connect with my cultural roots. I came across this film on a streaming platform and decided to give it a chance.
While the film showcases impressive aesthetics, with visually appealing scenes and locations that highlight the beauty of the city, I was ultimately disappointed by the lack of an engaging story. The narrative relied heavily on Colombian clichés and exaggerated characters without offering a cohesive or meaningful experience.
The film introduces a guide, but unfortunately, their character doesn't contribute any significant insights or genuine motivation for their performance. Several unrelated stories unfold throughout the movie: a financially struggling university student trying to impress a pretentious and gullible individual, another person portraying a fake wealthy persona teetering on the edge of financial failure, someone else attempting to depict an average middle-class lifestyle while secretly having a dark secret, a successful businessperson contrasting with a unique employee from a different region, and an individual campaigning for student representative in a rough school. Additionally, there's a character who plays the role of an unfaithful, corrupt leader.
While the actors deliver commendable performances, they couldn't overcome the shortcomings of the underdeveloped characters and weak storytelling. It is evident that they made the most of the material they were given. However, the film would have greatly benefited from stronger storytelling. Although it managed to have a few humorous moments, I found myself disengaged from the characters, and the unrelated storylines failed to make a significant impact. It was a missed opportunity to present Colombian identity with a compelling narrative and purpose. Although the characters at the center of the stories are predominantly female, the film lacked positive messages, character growth, or any sense of redemption. It felt as if nothing substantial happened by the end. While some may argue that the director intended to create a sequel, it doesn't justify the lack of substance in this installment.
While the film showcases impressive aesthetics, with visually appealing scenes and locations that highlight the beauty of the city, I was ultimately disappointed by the lack of an engaging story. The narrative relied heavily on Colombian clichés and exaggerated characters without offering a cohesive or meaningful experience.
The film introduces a guide, but unfortunately, their character doesn't contribute any significant insights or genuine motivation for their performance. Several unrelated stories unfold throughout the movie: a financially struggling university student trying to impress a pretentious and gullible individual, another person portraying a fake wealthy persona teetering on the edge of financial failure, someone else attempting to depict an average middle-class lifestyle while secretly having a dark secret, a successful businessperson contrasting with a unique employee from a different region, and an individual campaigning for student representative in a rough school. Additionally, there's a character who plays the role of an unfaithful, corrupt leader.
While the actors deliver commendable performances, they couldn't overcome the shortcomings of the underdeveloped characters and weak storytelling. It is evident that they made the most of the material they were given. However, the film would have greatly benefited from stronger storytelling. Although it managed to have a few humorous moments, I found myself disengaged from the characters, and the unrelated storylines failed to make a significant impact. It was a missed opportunity to present Colombian identity with a compelling narrative and purpose. Although the characters at the center of the stories are predominantly female, the film lacked positive messages, character growth, or any sense of redemption. It felt as if nothing substantial happened by the end. While some may argue that the director intended to create a sequel, it doesn't justify the lack of substance in this installment.
