Olmo

When Cecilia Lopez (Andrea Suarez Paz) must disappoint her bedridden husband Nestor (Gustavo Sánchez Parra, "Amores Perros") by taking a much needed double shift on a day they'd planned to spend together, her daughter Ana (Rosa Armendariz) objects to taking care of him because of pre-approved roller rink plans, so she is forced to rely on Ana's even more self-absorbed fourteen year-old brother "Olmo."

Laura's Review: B

Back in 2004, cowriter (with Vanesa Garnica)/director Fernando Eimbcke gave us the charming coming-of-age movie "Duck Season." Now he returns with another slice of life, this time dealing with a financially strained Mexican immigrant family in 1979 New Mexico whose youngest son is about to learn that the father he views as an inconvenient barrier to chasing his beautiful next door neighbor Nina Sandoval (Melanie Frometa) holds a bigger place in his heart.

Eimbcke and Garnica have a lot of fun playing with macho Latino stereotypes, opening the film with Olmo (Aivan Uttapa, "Night Swim"), lounging in a lawn chair in a wife beater and aviator sunglasses lifting weights while watching Nina, who eventually gets into the back of a cherry red Mustang with him, but it is revealed as a masturbatory fantasy when his father's voice breaks in, calling for help. Irritated, Olmo tries to get Ana to respond, but she insists it's his turn, so the distracted boy sits Nestor up to pee, only to misalign his plastic urinal bottle. The whole family becomes involved in changing out the bed as well as Nestor and, in reality this time, the way Nina sees Olmo is bringing out a urine stained mattress to dry.

Olmo's best friend Miguel (Diego Olmedo), almost a family member in the humble Lopez ranch house, is exceedingly proud of his new Tony Lama Western boots which will be complimented later by Nina when the two awkwardly approach to look cool smoking cigarettes (they fail miserably). But they'll learn she needs a stereo for a party that night and use this leverage to wrangle an invitation. Now they just have to get it fixed, which means Olmo now needs his father instead of the other way around. The situation becomes combustible, Nestor wanting to teach his son electronics while Olmo just wants the fastest solution until the amiable Miguel steps in. Now Olmo is faced with his next problem - finding someone to watch his dad while he and Miguel go to the party. Nestor's brother Julio (Valentin Mexico) had already turned down his sister-in-law earlier in the day, but Olmo's promise of the family's grill brings him roaring in in his silver muscle car. But Nestor isn't ready to give up his grill and after the brothers face off Julio roars back out. Ana seems a likely candidate when her friends neglect to pick her up, but she skates off down the road in a huff, so Olmo takes his dad's angry demand that he leave his house at face value, taking his mother's unreliable car after tinkering under its hood. The course of events that follow have the impact of an earthquake and its aftershocks.

Every member of the Lopez family is burdened by something. In Olmo's case, it is the occasional responsibility for a disabled parent during the height of adolescence. We'll learn that Cecilia is facing down an eviction notice due to three months back rent due in addition to the physical change in her marriage. Not only does Nestor have debilitating MS, spending his days in bed with a television that must have its roof antenna positioned just so, but the poor man must listen to his children squabbling over his care. And while we learn the least about Ana, she seems a bit of an outsider, her hopes on a night at the roller rink sounding a bit desperate. Eimbcke and Garnica balance all this with heart and humor and touches of magical realism, but one of Eimbcke's biggest assets is his use of music, a soundtrack full of regional flair with a dash of rock and 'A Fifth of Beethoven' to make head-banging disco stars out of Olmo and Miguel, all tied together by composer Giosuè Greco ("Didi") using traditional instruments. "Olmo" is a small movie with huge consequences and a valentine to both immigrant families and those caring for the sick struggling everywhere.

Robin's Review: B-

14-year old Olmo (Aivan Uttapa) has to take care of his MS-stricken and bed-ridden father, Nestor (Gustavo Sanchez Parra). But when his sexy young neighbor, Nina (Melanie Fromenta) invites him and his friend Miguel (Diego Olmedo) to a big party (if they bring a stereo), he must make a big choice in "Olmo."

On the surface, this premise would lead to a whole bunch of hi-jinks as the boys try to pull off the impossible and, maybe, get the girl. But, that is not what writer-director Fernando Eimbcke is doing with his family drama set in 1970s New Mexico.

Dad, as I said, suffers from multiple sclerosis and relies on his little family for any and all of his needs. Olmo and his slightly older sister Ana (Rosa Armendariz) must bear the brunt of dad's care since their mom, Cecilia (Andrea Suarez Paz), has to scramble for extra hours to pay the bills – but, even with that, they cannot ward off an eviction that hangs over the family.

Now, take teenagers who want to have fun and burden them with the responsibility of caring for an invalid, there will be problems. What comes across, as we see the family situation through Olmo's eyes, is one of "I don't want to do this, I had to take care of him yesterday!" pleas when mom demands it. But, we also get a solid glimpse into dad, Nestor's, world, as a quadriplegic, and the pain he has in being helpless. I am getting to know the feeling.

While the overall story is one of conflict, argument and teen selfishness, there is a glimmer of hope in what, finally, becomes Olmo's coming of age and understanding. My problem is that the film sets up all of the familial conflict – with Olmo, at one point, abandoning Nestor to pursue his selfish needs - only to have it wrapped up with kisses and hugs. It felt too much like a switch being thrown. Prior to that, we have a convincing family drama.

Greenwich Entertainment releases "Olmo" in theaters on 8/7/26.