'Raising Victor Vargas' is a beautifully crafted film

Raising Victor Vargas

Director: Peter Sollett

Cast: Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz.

Yet another low budget indie film that soars above its dollar-infested rivals. Set in the Latino neighbourhood of New York’s East Village, the film centres on a 17-year-old hormonally-addled youth, his reluctant girlfriend and the unwanted meddlings of his overbearing grandma.

What sets this film apart is its sheer rawness. From the untrained actors (culled from the same streets in which the film is set) to the documentary-style hand-held camerawork, this film is a beautifully crafted and refreshingly innocent in its style and storyline. Raising Victor Vargas is the debut of writer-director Sollett, a 26-year-old who based his work on a 29 minute short he made at film school. Sollett has drawn out memorable performances from the young leads and painted a sweet picture of young love. If Ken Loach was young, American and living in New York; he would be happy to call this his film debut. And that is praise indeed.

Star rating: 4/5