The Boy Who Smells Like Fish (2013)

At first glance, Mica seems a perfectly normal boy. But first glances can often be deceiving... For one, Mica's house is now a museum honouring Guillermo Garibai, the legendary Mexican ... See full summary »

Director:

Analeine Cal y Mayor

Writers:

Analeine Cal y Mayor, Javier Gullón

Stars:

Douglas Smith, Zoë Kravitz, Ariadna Gil

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Douglas Smith	...	Mica
Zoë Kravitz
Ariadna Gil	...	Sophie
Don McKellar	...	Richard
Kim Ly	...	The Lifeguard
Gonzalo Vega	...	Guillermo Garibai
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Bridger	...	Young Mika
Amanda Brugel	...	Nurse
Donald Burda	...	Doctor
Sydney Cross	...	Schoolgirl
Andrea Drepaul	...	Denise
Jayden Greig	...	Blonde Kid
Sam Herrington	...	Other Kid
Alexander Holtmann	...	Pool Manager
Aj Jaywar	...	Waiter

Storyline

At first glance, Mica seems a perfectly normal boy. But first glances can often be deceiving... For one, Mica's house is now a museum honouring Guillermo Garibai, the legendary Mexican crooner. Mica spends most of his time there, giving guided tours to aging Garibai fans. But stranger still, Mica smells. He smells like fish. Numerous doctors, his life-long therapist and even his own parents are at a loss. No one wants to be Mica's friend. Girls won't talk to him. His life appears pointless, uneventful, doomed. That is, until Laura walks into it.

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Taglines:

Mica is a perfectly normal boy. Well he would be if he didn't live in the museum and former home of the legendary Mexican singer, Guillermo Garibai. And if he didn't smell of fish.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Mexico Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2013 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

El Niño Que Huele A Pez

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhombus Media, Redrum, Mecanismo Films

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

An interplay of drama, comedy and magical realism

The Director and co-Writer of The Boy Who Smells Like Fish, Analeine Cal y Mayor, brings together a highly talented, well renowned cast and a well written script to tell the story of a young life who suffers from a devastating and incurable rare disease. There's never a dull moment as events altered with unexpected twists and turns throughout the movie. Douglas Smith plays the character, Mica, who suffers from Trimethylaminuria, a rare disorder that gives off a pungent fish odor resulting in his social ostracism throughout his upbringing. His deep emotional and psychological scars are not visibly seen, and consequently, the director and Douglas Smith expertly portray these scars through their screen writing, acting and directing.

Under Analeine's direction, the young and handsome Doug very successfully gives his character a bittersweet quality throughout the story as his body language and his behavior portrays the typical low self-esteem and scarred personality development of a solitary recluse, which is common among sufferers of this incurable disease. Mica's efforts to cope is highlighted with Carrie Anne Moss's very sophisticated and highly sensitive character as his therapist. He is not always sure how to cope with Zoe Kravitz' advances, and reacts strangely, adding depth to his character.

Cal y Mayor's exceptional directing stands out most in the artistic manner in which she brings together a gloomy drama with comedy and magical realism, which makes this film stand out above a typical documentary or above a typical despondent drama.