Passarinho

By: Gladys Luna

Passarinho follows the story of Oli (Camila Robertson Glennie), a teenager whose plans to meet her favorite soccer player Passarinho (Anthony Mawena Kokou) are ruined by the appearance of her first menstruation. Through this short film, we are able to explore the metamorphosis that comes along with becoming a teenager and the pivotal part that having a solid support group and foundation plays in everyone’s life.

Oli and her best friend Laura (Isabella Patron) are passionate soccer fans and have crafted a perfect plan that will get them face to face with their favorite goalkeeper – Passarinho. Carmen (Naomy Romo), Oli’s mother and with whom the teenager does not have the best of relationships, drives them to the stadium completely unaware of what is to come. What starts as a troubled and complicated mother-daughter dynamic soon turns into one of the best experiences of the young girl’s life when due to an unexpected turn of events Carmen becomes the heroine that she didn’t know she could be for her daughter.

Oli and Laura’s chemistry on the screen is delightful. Laura’s support and care for her friend is beautiful while they navigate through what it means to have her first menstruation on what was expected to be a magical day. Even though Carmen appears to be an external element added to the mix to enhance the tension, she manages to mingle just well with the teenagers to the point that their interaction turns out to be exquisite. And despite of the first impressions we might have of this character, watching her go into the “mother” mode in order to help her daughter to accomplish her goal turns out to be one of the best scenes of the film.

In this autobiographical story, director Natalia García explores common aspects of adolescence turning them into a lovely experience where nothing is too broken that it cannot be fixed. It also teaches audiences that there is beauty in the unexpected. Her exploration of the different aspects that come with moving to another stage of your life are so honestly represented that is inevitable to take us back – if only for a moment – to that time of our lives.

Passarinho is a film about friendship, adolescence, parental unconditional love, and the perks of being alive. It is a nostalgic and warm ride to the past that you should not miss. I completely recommend this film!