Moscas (Flies)

With Moscas – Spanish for ‘flies’ – Mexican director Fernando Eimbcke returns to the black-and-white aesthetic and soothing minimalism of his finest film, Temporada de patos. In need of money, Olga rents out a room in her flat to a man and his nine-year-old son, Christian, whose wife/mother is in a nearby hospital. As the father spends a lot of time with his wife, Olga and Christian end up spending a lot of time together. Eimbcke has always had a knack for young actors, but Bastian Escobar as Christian is a real discovery. Essentially, Moscas tackles heavy themes such as (the fear of) connection and loss, but Eimbcke’s observational approach – with mostly static shots – and the flashes of humour that bubble up from everyday actions serve to soften the blow. And there’s another surprising element that tempers the intensity: the presence of old-school video games. How and why? It would be a shame to give away before you see the film.