CLFF 2013: Peru Sabe

More and more I see television productions being entered into film festivals, or even getting some screen time in general theaters.  Most of them are in the documentary vein.

This documentary definitely felt like a television travelogue type show. There were two well known chefs who went around Peru and talked about how cooking is making social change in that country (the film is subtitled Cuisine as an Agent of Social Change), one of whom is the chef of El Bulli (which you might recall has its own documentary about it)—Ferran Adria. The other is Gaston Acurio, “the most famous chef you’ve never heard of” who has 31 restaurants in 12 countries.

CIFF 2012: The Cleaner

In Lima, there is a plague that has decimated the population. Middle aged Eusebio (Victor Prada) works as a biohazard cleaner, mopping up blood and disinfecting the homes of people who have died. In one such house he finds a survivor, a boy named Joaquin (Adrian Du Bois).

Not knowing what to do with the kid, Eusebio tries to get help from social workers and doctors. But they are either unhelpful or overworked. Eusebio takes Joaquin home where, in distress, Joaquin hides in the closet. Eusebio continues with his life and job, trying to draw Joaquin out of his fear and at the same time trying to locate a relative of Joaquin's to take him.