Abel Review

• 20th Apr 2011

Abel, directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna, is a rather bizarre dramedy that focuses on the trials and tribulations of a young boy.  We first meet Abel as the doctor finally allows his mother to take him back home after having spent the past two years in a mental hospital. Walking on eggshells to be careful not to upset him, his siblings are less than impressed with his return. As the narrative develops we find that Abel lost his father two years previously and has now, through his blurred perception of reality, chosen to replace him.

Diego Luna is an actor having appeared in a variety of films, ranging from Mexican classics such as Before Night Falls and Y Tu Mamá También to Hollywood films such as The Terminal and Milk. Abel represents his second outing as a director and his first in terms of drama, his previous effort was a documentary about Julio Caesar Chavez.  Mexican cinema, in general, has seen a great resurgence on the world stage in the past five years with Inarritu, Del Toro and Cauron all helming financially and critically successful films.

Having co-written the film as well, it’s fair to say that this project may have a deeper meaning for Luna. As Abel begins to assume the role of father the narrative concentrates on the comedic aspect of the change. The highlight comes when his sister’s boyfriend turns up at the house only to be confronted by a hyper-serious ten year old wanting to know his intentions.

The narrative is split into two parts as the comedy is replaced by the drama once his father returns to the house. His mother Cecilia has ensured that his siblings do nothing to upset him, hoping this will aid his recovery. The return of Anselmo, his father, ultimately leads to a confrontation between the two. Abel is a boy who has taken refuge in a land of imagination that grows darker by the day.

Fans of world cinema will find much to enjoy in this somewhat bizarre coming-of-age drama. Abel’s strengths lie in the excellent performances by the small cast and the superb use of locations. Christopher Ruíz-Esparza as Abel and his real life brother Gerardo Ruíz-Esparza as Paul share a rare on screen tenderness. Karina Gidi as Cecilia gives a heart-breaking performance of emotional depth. The narrative is limited but thankfully Luna has kept the running time down to a superbly lean 75 minutes. Doubtless some may find the film a little strange but those with a taste for Lemony Snicket or the pen of Roald Dahl will find much to revel in.

The charming early surface of the film allows for the darker underbelly to slowly appear as we reach the conclusion. A film about children and family that is most definitely for adults, the emotional strangeness of Abel gives a portrait of family life that is honest in terms of its rewards and its possible problems.

Aled Jones