Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999)

Director:

Sebastián Cordero

Writer:

Sebastián Cordero (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 2002 (Peru)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The world of Salvador, a young and naive petty thief is changed by the arrival of his cousin Angel, an ex-convict in search of easy money...

Plot Keywords:

Petty Thief | Prostitute | Father Daughter Relationship | Prostitution | Shower

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Simón Brauer	...	J.C.
Marco Bustos	...	Salvador
Cristina Dávila	...	Mayra
Fabricio Lalama	...	Marlon
Irina López	...	Carolina
Antonio Negret	...	Martin
Carlos Valencia	...	Angel

Also Known As:

Rodents (Canada: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Ecuador

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Company:

Cabezahueca

Trivia:

Director Cameo: ['Sebastian Cordero']the man sleeping in the bus terminal who has lost his money.

Unsurpassed realism shocks in this must see Latin film

I had heard a lot about this ground breaking, acclaimed film about street kids in Ecuador at Film Festivals in Europe and South America in 1999. But, I just got to see it today at the Miami Hispanic Film Festival. Take it from one who's experienced that scene in the crime ridden, cocaine-permeated large capitals of South America...This film- RODENTS, in English is the next most realistic (and much less life-threatening) thing to being in that scene. It's not just the characters themselves, their neighborhoods, their language, their crimes which are so meticulously recreated. The alluring yet potentially lethal high that cocaine in all its forms, especially in smoked form in this film, has never been as faithfully reproduced. "Rodents" main, ex-convict character, and the special effects surrounding his base smoking scenes, are mind boggling. The movie starts with such a scene. After that, it's as if one totally understands what draws the character to continue committing such incredible low, almost sub-human crimes. The high is so intoxicating, even when juxtaposed with graphic sex, that for once, and perhaps the only time in cinema, the poison that particular drug contains is made completely clear. What ensues in "Rodents" in the never-ending quest for that "high" constitutes some of the most realistic portrayals of youth crime, and social class clashes in Latin America film. However, seeing all that, with the almost too real-to-be-true cinematic insight of the addiction which causes these social tragedies, is a unique experience. Not to be missed.