I had some mixed feelings after watching this movie. It has for most part a very serious tone, but the sudden (happy) ending felt a bit rushed and out of sync with the rest.
In flashbacks we see an endearing friendship between two young kids. In the present day, the adult versions of these kids meet again after a long time and in an awkward, tentative way circle around each other. These scenes, where the adult Matías and Jerónimo gradually feel their childhood attraction being rekindled, while hardly daring to react on it, are very sensitive, and the conflicting reactions of Matías are convincing and understandable, feeling his whole existence slowly turned upside down, especially after they finally do land in bed together.
The very serious and apprehensive atmosphere of the film made me expect, after their sexual encounter, all kinds of draw-backs and obstructions. But not so: within hardly ten more minutes the movie ended smoothly and a bit out of the blue as happy as any Hallmark romcom. Of course that's great, I was glad for them, but somehow it didn't really suit the rest of the movie.
Ignacio Rogers and Esteban Masturini both do a fine job (their kid-versions by the way are equally convincing!). And a huge compliment to the photography, especially in the scenes where the boys and later grown-up guys wander, boat and swim in the marshes (the "esteros" from the title), these scenes are visually breathtaking and full of tranquil and serene beauty.
In flashbacks we see an endearing friendship between two young kids. In the present day, the adult versions of these kids meet again after a long time and in an awkward, tentative way circle around each other. These scenes, where the adult Matías and Jerónimo gradually feel their childhood attraction being rekindled, while hardly daring to react on it, are very sensitive, and the conflicting reactions of Matías are convincing and understandable, feeling his whole existence slowly turned upside down, especially after they finally do land in bed together.
The very serious and apprehensive atmosphere of the film made me expect, after their sexual encounter, all kinds of draw-backs and obstructions. But not so: within hardly ten more minutes the movie ended smoothly and a bit out of the blue as happy as any Hallmark romcom. Of course that's great, I was glad for them, but somehow it didn't really suit the rest of the movie.
Ignacio Rogers and Esteban Masturini both do a fine job (their kid-versions by the way are equally convincing!). And a huge compliment to the photography, especially in the scenes where the boys and later grown-up guys wander, boat and swim in the marshes (the "esteros" from the title), these scenes are visually breathtaking and full of tranquil and serene beauty.