1) Bad Hair (Nov. 19)
Although it did not have a high profile at the 2013 Toronto film festival – yes, this has been waiting for a theatrical release for more than a year – the Venezuelan drama has earned strong marks from critics (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and looks both powerful and compassionate.
Bad Hair focuses on Junior (Samuel Lange Zambrano), a precocious child growing up in an urban slum with his mother and baby brother. He wants to straighten his poofy ‘do and look like a long-haired singer in a beauty pageant. Although Junior wants to alter his appearance in time for his school photo, his mom, Marta (Samantha Castillo), fears that he is showing signs of being a homosexual. Meanwhile, Junior is too young to understand why his will to look a certain way is causing such worry for his mom.
It is always fascinating to see how different countries take a look at sexual identity and LGBT themes through coming-of-age storylines. Titles like the American indie Pariah, and France’s Tomboy and Blue is the Warmest Colour were compelling glimpses of young people navigating their sexuality, honest and rich with emotional detail. Bad Hair, which is in Spanish, should be an insightful view into the sexual politics of citizens from another side of the world. Mixed with what critics rave to be tender, wrenching performances from its cast, including the young Zambrano, this could be one of the most emotionally affecting titles of the year.
Mariana Rondon’s drama could also be one of the fall’s most thought-provoking films, and with a limited run set for November, it could be a modest success – especially if the movie, which stands a good change of being touted as Venezuela’s submission for foreign language film, is nominated for an Oscar.