CINEMA CAN A D A Andre Melancon's Fierro (The Summer of the Colt) umber eight out of the starting gate in the Tales for All series, Fierro looks to have legs equal to its forerunners, and demonstrates the same warmth and Nsophistication that have made winners of previous entries from the (producer Rock ) Demers stable. Director Andre Melancon (The Dog Who Slopped The War, Bach and Botline) is back in the saddle and, along with co-scripters Genevieve Lefebvre and Rodolfo Otero, has fashioned a satisfying film; one that occasionally meanders down the backstretch, but eventuallyrounds the clubhouse turn and crosses the finish line in good form. Fierro's pairing of kids and horses is a can't-miss formula, especially if the kids and Santiago Gonzalez a s Mart in, in (but not on) Fierro. horses in question mil act, which, fortunately, is the case here . (They all, horse included, ilash from the fact that she's female, Laura cuts her her aunt that she now has her period, and the Important too is the the film's ending. The winning smiles). Daniel, Felipe and Laura (juan hair and joins the boys in their competitive straightforward treatment of other " delicate " characters may reconcile their immediate de Benedictis, Mariano Bertolini, and Alexandra riding games. Unfortunately, her actions subjects - Daniel comes upon Martin's mother conflicts, but there is never any suggestion that London-Thompson) are three city kids who provoke greater disapproval from Federico. breastfeeding her newborn - shows a refreshing the future will be entirelybrigh t, or that they will spend their summer holidays riding horses Meanwhile, Daniel and Martin are ha ving their intent to severe the artificial distinctions all live happily ever after. One senses that there around the ranch owned by their grandfather, friendship tested by their love for a horse. When between children's and adult cinema (which is, are many more life lessons ahead for all Federico, played by Hector Alterio (La Hisloria Federico offers Daniel his choice of the wild of course, one of the laudable hallmarks of the involved. Official). This Canada-Argentina co-production horses on the ranch to break and train, he Tales for All series. ) Frank Rackow • was the impetus for the treaty signed between chooses Fierro, a lovely golden stallion. But Just when all this adult, psycho-drama stuff the two countries last year. Fierro is already the secret favourite of Martin, threatens to overwhelm (one wonders what kids The story is essentially an amalgam of classic who for some time before Daniel's arri val has under 10 are going to make of this?), Melancon FIERRO (THE SUMMER OFTHE COLT) p. coming-of-age themes - the intrusion of both been working with the animal himself. picks up the pace with wonderful, winning Rock Demers, Lita Stanhcd. Andre Melan,onse. Gene\;eve Lefeb"e, Andre Melan,on se. co/llol'ig. ideo Rodolfo Otero . sexuality and of political awakening into the What ensues is reminiscent of South African scenes of graceful horses and riders on the d.o.l'. Thomas Vamos orl d. Esmeralda A1monacid lillc p. reverie of childhood. As the film opens, th e wri ter Andre Brink's A Chain of Voices, a classic Argentine pall/pas . Daniel and Martin compete Daniel Louis, jose Strier "'16. Osvaldo Montes ed. Andre three youngsters arrive in the foreman's truck anti-apartheid work in which the friendship over an ingenious obstacle course on horseback, Corriveau 1'. IIIgl'. Dolly Pussi lsi. o.d. Carl Delaroehe-Ver­ for their happy, annual reunion with Grand­ between hvo boys, a white farmer's son and the as well as in a fast, colourful, rugby-like game, net, Victor Dinenzon o. d. Ana Maria Bas COll i. France black son of slaves, is torn apart as they take up also played on horseback. This is another Lacha pelle loe. sd . Yvon Benoit sd. des . Claude Langlois father Federico, Great-Aunt Ana (China posl. p. Sill'. LorraineduHameI2Ildo.d. Cristina Civalecosl. Zorrilla), and - for 13-year-old Daniel especially their adult destinies (all but irrelevant in important element in Melm;on's films: the dcs. Lucrecia Matilde de Ricart ossl. cosl. dco. Maria Molina - with Martin (Santiago Gonzalez), the childhood). Here, the friendship behveen the portrayal of kids as having specific and realistic casl. (Can) Danyele Patenaude (Argentina) Ana Maria Bas foreman's son and his friend . This, however, is two boys crumbles as Martin, the foreman's son, (not magical), talents and responsibilities, like 05sl. 10 p. Louise Belanger p. Odillill. Bernard Lamy, Stella Fontan mill. 01'. Daniel Vincelette 151. ossi. COlli. Michel caring for animals and watching over smaller to be the last idyllic summer before the stormy silen tly accepts Daniel's right to arrogantly Girard mill. 115515. jose Manuel Cajaraville, Luis Casteleti onset of adolescence. Of course, the bad assert his ownership of Fierro. [n one children. bid. ossl . mill. Guillermo Alvarez Mesas opp. COlli . Grigori .weather shows up a little sooner than expec ted particularly effective scene, the point is driven Relief from the heaviness also comes from the Craer 1'00111 Perlecto de San Jose props Oresto Sacchi, Jorge (or there wouldn't be much of a film). home by a simple gesture; Daniel silences his younger brofher, Felipe. Just nine years old­ Oscar de la Renta slills 1'''010 Jean Demers props ossts. Sophie Elhier, Irene Banchik mnkrul' Ines Morrone "air Rodolfo Fourteen-year-old Laura has attained physical friend by handing him the reins of a horse in a but carrying on a regular correspondence Spinetta ossl. "oil' Nelida Aued gofft'l' Carlos Enrique maturity in the past year, and her growing way that strongly implies the master/servant throughout the summer with his girlfriend in Centeno c/ees. Juan Carlos Centeno, Javier Sergio Centeno, resemblance to her grandmother - whodeserted relationship . Buenos Aires - Felipe is the embodiment of the Ruben E. Menendez, Gustavo Hungaro, Nicolas Adalberlo grandfather Federico many years back - shakes This is where you realize - in spi te of the adage" !i'om the mouths of babes .... " His Gatto kl1/ g"pPhilippe Palu grips Miguel Juan ZarkO\;ch, Edesio Rogelio, Imbert sp. h. Tom CundonILos Centuriones the old man and causes him to reject his formerly standard kids and horses formula - that you're humour and common sense eventually cause S. A. ossl. cd . Teresa de Luca, Anne jose Boudreau mix. beloved granddaughter. Unable to understand not in Disneyland anymore. In addition to the the others to see the foolishness of their ways, as Michel Descombes nssl. lIIix. Luc Boudrias 111115. dir. Jimmy this rejection, Laura resorts to a variety of class-conscious element of Martin and Daniel' s he becomes the catalyst for their eventual Tanaka orc/1. Gilles Ouellet guilor solo Roque Carbajo sOllg _ attention-get ting tactics while searching within rivalry, the conflict between Laura and Federico reconciliation. His is alsoan important character ,. Siempre en Ti" sung by Mercedes Sosa, sd. ft. Viateur Paiement, Jerome Decarie, Monique Vezina IlOrsl' Imilll'l's herself for some fault. In the process of trying to comes very close to suggesting incestuous in the sense that, though he may not have the Felipe Gallegos , Lucio Gallegos, Hugo Lemus, Carlos Mena, regain Federico's acceptance she runs head-on feelings on the grandfather's part. Perhaps physical skills of his older siblings, his Mario Perez Ficrro'slmillCl' Pedro Vargas p. sec. Ines Vera p. into her grandfather's sexist double standards director Melan~on ' s experieJ1ce working on a personality and affability mark him as an coord. Genevieve Lefebvre p. 0551'. Miriam Bendjuia, Silvina and the other major plot line. film about incest (Le Lyse Casse, 1987) served as important member of the family - a reassuring Polecollo, Aldo Guillermo Arreguinl'p. 1'. Nancy Defilipi d. 1'1'0111011011 KevlIl Tierney. An official Canada-Argentina Sensing that her problems with Grandpa stem inspiration. As well, Laura's announcement to notion for younger siblings of any age. CoproduLhon. Les,Productions la Fete. CINEMA CANADA PAGE !l8 SEPTEMBER 1989 IMAGE ORGANIZATI . ASSOCIATED WITH THE! IN THE MARKETING OF AUSTRALIA PALACE ENTERTAINMENT INDIA, PAKISTAN, RHINO ENTERPRISES C.E.l. SRI LANKA, BURMA ASHOKA FILMPAC VIRGIN VISION INDONESIA BOLA DUNIA BENELUX lUMINA ISRAEL GENERAL MUSIC CORP. WARNER BROS. SEVEN STARS GOFIIEX B. V. 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MALAYSIA CINESTAR FIlM CENTRE MElOR-SCR EEN VISION RCA/COLUMBIA VIDEOVAN UNITED KINGDOM BRAVEWORlD SOUTH AFRICA STER KINEKOR RCA/COLUMBIA VIRGIN VISION CINEPlEX ENTERTAINMENT SOUTH KOREA HANJIN SAMSUNG EAST MEDIA WEST GERMANY STARliGHT DELTA FIlMS DAEWOO AUSTRIA RCA/COLUMBIA SAMBOO SWITZERLAND INDEPENDENT HIGHliGHT COMMUNICATIONS VESTRON WEST INDIES ATM INTERNATIONAL FIlMS ~~/MAGE --------------------------------------------------~-----~~---- CINEMA CAN A D A • Larry Weinstein's when the direcior's attempt to catch everyone in liked to take long night-walks, and to please his the orchestra, for instance, seems clumsy and mother bybuying her clothes and trinkets when Alain Chartrand's distracting.