El salvavidas
Maite Alberdi
Chile | 2011 | 63 min
Language : Spanish
Subtitles : English, French
A sandy beach at the ocean. Holidaymakers are beginning to converge, the lifeguard is carefully preparing his station. A Californian-style atmosphere pervades the first images of the film, but make no mistake: this is a Chilean seaside resort. Beneath the sun of the Chilean summer, we observe the day-to-day life of Mauricio, a lifeguard with long dreadlocks, whose devotion and commitment we quickly perceive. Over the course of a day, we discover this protagonist whose work seems to be a real mission: Mauricio always shows professionalism but, simultaneously understanding and seriousness, with a rare ability for listening. On the beach he watches over, he has become a benchmark for children and adults alike, at risk sometimes of doing too much and being overzealous. Through the remarkable camera work and the composition of the shots, we are also plunged into the various realities of the characters: the beach thus transforms into a microcosm with tragicomic notes, a stage for life where reality approaches the grotesque.
Jasmin Basic
