The film “Goyo” is one of the best Argentine movies I have seen in recent years.
It is a romantic story of Goyo, an autistic young man, who falls in love with an older married woman Eva who has moved away from her husband. Goyo is autistic but artistic. He paints and has a vast knowledge of art in which he has graduated. While he is good in his work as a museum guide, he is awkward and uncomfortable in dealing with people. He tries to understand people and situations through reading and theoretical analysis. One day, he sees Eva while she was struggling and angry with her broken umbrella in rain. Her image sets his heart on fire. He discovers that Eva works in the same museum as security guard. He tries to court her in his own absurd and comical way. He is encouraged by his brother who coaches him on how to deal with women. Eva is overwhelmed by the innocent, sincere and talented Goyo and his painting of her portrait.
Moment to stop….…and let you enjoy the rest of the story by watching the movie.
The Director Marcos Carnevale has handled autism with a sensitive and empathetic touch while making us laugh and smile with Goyo’s clumsy behavior and formal talk, which is humorous. He has made the simple and predictable story poignant through the complex Argentine characters.
The Uruguayan Actor Nicolas Furtado touches our heart as Goyo, the adorable young man with the Asperger's Syndrome. The Argentine actress Nancy Duplaa in her role of Eva and the other actors did not have to do any acting in the movie. They have simply talked and behaved in the same natural way as they do in every day life. The Latino 'magic' comes out from the Argentine 'realism'. The Argentines do not need stories or fantasies or imagination. Their reality is more fantastic than magic. Otherwise how can one explain a country which was one of the richest in the first three decades of the last century becoming now a country with fifty percent poverty rate and severe economic crisis. And this is not the first time of crisis..The crisis in 2001 was much more traumatic than the current one. The Argentines create crisis for themselves periodically but regularly and predictably. Argentina is a rare country which has moved from the First World to the Third World.
The Uruguayan Actor Nicolas Furtado touches our heart as Goyo, the adorable young man with the Asperger's Syndrome. The Argentine actress Nancy Duplaa in her role of Eva and the other actors did not have to do any acting in the movie. They have simply talked and behaved in the same natural way as they do in every day life. The Latino 'magic' comes out from the Argentine 'realism'. The Argentines do not need stories or fantasies or imagination. Their reality is more fantastic than magic. Otherwise how can one explain a country which was one of the richest in the first three decades of the last century becoming now a country with fifty percent poverty rate and severe economic crisis. And this is not the first time of crisis..The crisis in 2001 was much more traumatic than the current one. The Argentines create crisis for themselves periodically but regularly and predictably. Argentina is a rare country which has moved from the First World to the Third World.
Goyo brings out the typical and unique Argentine mindset and cultural traits. Watching the Argentines talk and argue in the movie and in every day life is an entertainment by itself. This was the best part of my five year stay in Buenos Aires. I used to enjoy listening to the colorful conversations of the Argentines in the cafes in Buenos Aires. The city is famous for its legendary cafes and book stores. The Argentines read a lot of books, analyze the contents and discuss them seriously in the cafes for hours together. The Argentine taxi drivers are one of the most well-read and articulate in the world.
Even when the Argentines use the most abusive and angry words, they do it with creativity, style, sarcasm and humor. They have a rare flair for combining their notorious haughtiness with humorous naughtiness. There are lots of jokes about the Argentines in the rest of Latin America. Even the Argentines themselves (including Pope Francis) make fun of their compatriots and write books. My favorite books are “ Che Boludo” and El Pelotudo Argentino” which have amazing collection of jokes and stories.
The Argentines complicate even the simplest things by too much complex and critical analysis. Once when I explained how India is a complicated country due to people speaking different languages and unable to understand each other, an Argentine commented, " In Argentina we speak only one language but we still don't understand each other". For Argentines, every little thing is like the Aleph (a point in space that contains all other points and reveals everything in the universe from every angle simultaneously) in the famous story of Borges.
The Argentine film makers come out with gems like “Goyo” from time to time despite their limited budget and other resource constraints. The last Argentine film which impressed me was “Wild Tales”, released in 2014. It narrates the extreme reactions of the Argentines when they are emotional. The Argentine President Javier Milei with his haughty talk and extremist outbursts is like one of the characters in "Wild Tales". He is not exceptional or different. He is simply and naturally behaving as an authentic Argentine...ha..ha..
Besides its delightful entertainment as a drama, the film Goyo has a valuable educational contribution to the society. It makes people to understand and develop empathy for those who are disadvantaged in social skills.
Goyo, which has just been released in Netflix, deserves an Oscar award..
Goyo, which has just been released in Netflix, deserves an Oscar award..
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