Heiners Filmseiten – Pellet (en)

Pellet (El Bola)

Russian title: Шарик
Original title: El Bola

Alternative titles:
Wooden Ball

Youth drama – Spanien
Production year: 2000
Movie length: 88 minutes

Director: Achero Mañas
Writer: Verónica Fernández, Achero Mañas
Cinematograph: Juan Carlos Gómez
Music: Eduardo Arbide

Movie description:

El Bola, a 12 year old boy a.k.a. »Pellet« is a 12 year old boy raised in a violent and sordid environment. Embarrassed by his family life, he avoids becoming close to classmates. The arrival of a new boy at school changes his attitude towards his classmates, and friendship. The heart of the story is the change in El Bola’s life, at almost all levels, after befriending this new classmate.

Pablo is a 12-year old boy raised in an unforgiving environment. Hurt by the brutality of his family life, he isolates himself from his classmates, engaging them only through a dangerous game. The arrival of a new pupil, with whom he learns to be friends, leads to the discovery of a family where love and warmth prevail over violence. Told through both the children’s and adults’ points of view, the film carefully juxtaposes the lives of a caring father unable to connect with his willful son, and that of distant Pablo and his abusive father who is incapable of giving him the love he needs, replacing it with something far more sinister.

Boy Actors