Duck Season (2004) User Reviews

Closer and Closer to what Modern Mexican Lifestyle is really like.

[TheWillVega · 8/10 · 28 March 2006]

We've all seen movies that just portray Mexico as one of the poorest countries in the world and have its people usually situated like "Speedy Gonzalez"-like carefree people with very short tempers.

While it is somewhat true for some regions (or the most part, it all depends), that's not the representation of Mexico as a whole. This movie is closer to what me, my friends, and (some of my) relatives live like: normal people who just like to kick back, play videogames, have a coke, and just have fun with everyday life. They just happen to live in Mexico (and I just happen to live in America in my part because of my grandparents). That's really all it is.

Of course, like any art film, the movie goes a little beyond your typical Sunday afternoon. The two main kids, Flama and Mako, are just trying to spend the entire day killing time and they are eventually accompanied by Rita (Flama's next door neighbor who just needed to borrow the kitchen) and Ulises (A pizza delivery guy, with a heart of gold, who stays with the gang because of pay disputes over a pizza Flama and Mako ordered in the beginning).

But, unlike your REAL typical Sunday, everything just gets chaotic within that 9 hour time-span. So inevitably, the characters eventually flesh out their true colors, often get into discussions about how animals act, why they are in the mess they are in, and how their fast friendship eventually became something worth more than just borrowing a kitchen to make a cake or pay disputes over a pizza.

The name "Duck Season" will become pretty apparent in the middle and towards the end, I thought it was truly symbolic and clever the way they used the theme. Some of the jokes are funny (some even funnier if you listen to the slang they pull at each other), some of the situations can get really deep to a point where you know the character's true desires, and in the end...you just can't help but sit back and wish for more!

I'll end this saying the Black and White style fits the film perfectly (especially in a few scenes, which would've been hellish to retake without the B&W filter) but the ending...well, like I said, it left me wanting for a little more. Many of the camera angles are well done, but in my opinion, they should've laid off the fade in/fade out a little bit (I mean, my poor eyes...).

And I have to hand it to them...i'm glad they actually depicted videogames in a more REALISTIC fashion; its not just two kids smashing their poor controllers to hell in a ONE player game *cough*charliesangles*cough*, you've got Halo and what I *think* is FIFA (correct me if i'm wrong). I hope more directors will pick up the trend soon if they want to make their films seem a little more realistic when they include videogames.

Overall, a good film and a must see!

Home Alone via Kevin Smith circa '94

[oneloveall · 6/10 · 30 August 2006]

Admirable though overdone, Mexico's Duck Season does nevertheless enter itself into the indie history books for it's mostly memorable portrayal of 7 hours in the lives of these two young men. Starting off as slow as is possible, the brilliance of this film is only realized when the seemingly mundane, near painful boredom that these young men (along with us viewers) experience being home alone, is brilliantly transformed into something else way more profound. It is that transition itself that I am most impressed by, giving the indulgent direction a crisp reawakening of purpose. Though the (tiny!) supporting cast often takes a bit of the realism away with their forced motives, their lessons learned account for the bulk of this emotional tale, which in turn makes this one of the more effective coming of age pics recent unassuming, independent filmmakers have pursued.

Amusing Series of Home Alone Vignettes with Adorable Young Teens

[noralee · 7/10 · 22 March 2006]

"Duck Season (Temporada de patos)" answers the question what do 14 - 16 year olds in a Mexico City housing development do on a lazy Sunday afternoon when their mother and the electric power is out?

Turns out, not much else than the kids in the Wisconsin basement did in "That'70's Show" or in Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat". It is a relief to know these latchkey friends aren't like Larry Clark's "Kids" on NYC's Lower East Side or those in the banlieus we've seen lately in French films, as instead we have a series of amusing vignettes, with the humor emphasized by co-writer/director Fernando Eimbcke's camera angles. The audience frequently takes the position of the oven, video game, painting, etc. that the adorable youngsters stare at intensely in various degrees of sobriety. Danny Perea as literally the girl next door is marvelous. The boys' friendship is very naturally portrayed.

This is the second little movie I've seen this year where a pizza delivery guy gets caught up in his customers lives (as in "Pizza") and it is a cute gimmick, even if we don't really learn much about the guy other than that he's fed up.

We only learn much about one of the kids, as the minor revelations are let out gradually in incongruous ways. Surprisingly, any of the self-discovery or lessons learned are really just a taking off point for humorous actions. It's just a series of funny looking scenes, one slowly after another, usually based on the kids' naiveté and misunderstandings. (The trailer is very misleading as to the pacing of the film.)

The final scene is after all the credits so you can see, among many thanks, acknowledgments to Yasujiro Ozu, probably for the domestic focus and camera angles, and James Jarmusch, as this black and white film does have a lot in common with the look and interactions in "Coffee and Cigarettes", among other of his films.

There are only a couple of cool song selections we hear them playing, with some classical pieces for juxtapositional humor.

The English subtitles are always legible and easy to read.

A lovely little film

[megawhoosits · 28 December 2004]

I viewed this at the Toronto International Film festival and I was pleasantly surprised- simple, direct, and yet still very engaging.

It highlights the simplicity of childhood and the difficulty of early adolescence; as well as just simple, human joys. A film like this need not be complex, technically, I mean hey, it worked with "Clerks" didn't it?

I enjoyed this film tremendously because it was so realistic- it reminded me a lot of how I and other kids acted when we were younger (perhaps the pizza guy is excluded from this realism).

I would recommend this film to just about anyone, and I can't wait to see if it's ever released to video.

David Jeffers for SIFFblog.com

[rdjeffers · 7/10 · 27 March 2006]

Wednesday March 22, 7:00pm The Varsity

"We four are like The Beatles." "They were all men!" "John Lennon was a woman."

How much mischief can two bored fourteen-year-olds get into on a Sunday afternoon? In Fernando Eimbcke's Duck Season, Moko spends the day at the apartment his best friend Flama, minus adult supervision. Together they busy themselves with the activities of average middle-class teenagers, playing video games, eating junk food, wreaking a little havoc and causing a little property damage. The cute (and slightly older) neighbor girl Rita comes over to "borrow" the oven. This results in one burnt cake, one that is inedible and hilarious sexual jousting with younger Moko. The boys stiff the pizza delivery guy who refuses to leave without payment but really wants any excuse to escape his dead-end job. Filmed in a cinematic style that makes effective use of wide-angle photography in confined spaces, this is a film that cleverly creates something from nothing. Duck Season is sweet and warmly amusing without a hint of pretense.

Beckett for teens (but agreed, no teen would watch it)

[Chris Knipp · 9/10 · 1 April 2006]

Temporada de patos has gone the rounds of fests and swept the Mexican equivalent of the Academy Awards. Being a minimalist at heart, I don't know why people keep saying this is "a slight conceit" and "not much happens" and stuff like that. Not much happens in Samuel Beckett's Endgame and Waiting for Godot either -- except a consideration of the most important questions about existence. Cut out the crap, and you may be left with the good stuff.

It's been said that the dumb silences in Jarmusch are smarter; I don't think so; they're just hipper-looking. This is a not a movie about hipness, but about everyday life, and its moments of transition, focused on a couple of fourteen-year-olds in a middle class apartment in Mexico City on a Sunday and a pizza man who stays to argue over getting paid and a sixteen-year-old girl from next door who stays to do some baking because her oven isn't working and, let's face it, she's lonely.

Actually almost nothing happens in Antonioni's L'Avventura either but it was given a famous award at Cannes for inventing "a new cinematic language." In fact real time, and the reduction of eventfulness typical of real life, are so rarely expressed in cinematic language it seems something quite new when they are, and this, to me, is the virtue of Duck Season -- as well as its sincerity and, despite its modesty, its emotional validity.

Mexico loved Duck Season but in America it's politely nodded to but then everyone has to say "it's a slight conceit." The thing is, Antonioni's L'Avventura contained not only adults, but elegant Italians, including Monica Vitti. It's not such a pleasure to look at Moko (Diego Cataño) and Flama (Daniel Miranda). Flama's nervous mama leaves them to an Sunday of Slayer and large lovingly poured glasses of iced Coca. Do you remember that Coca Cola used to have cocaine in it? It's obvious that Moko and Flama are getting hopped up. But then the electricity goes off.

Minimalism is like Zen meditation. If you think of nothing, if you stop and sit, if you simply count to ten over and over, you will open the doors of perception. That electrical shutdown stops the action. Periodically Duck Season does that. Duck Season is a boring movie. But it's also an adorable movie (I think that's why it made the sweep of the Mexican awards). Beckett's plays are boring too. But they're also hilarious, tragic, and profound. Funny what all you can do with nothing.

Duck Season encourages close observation. It begins with a series of static shots of middle-distance scenes around the apartment complex where the action, in black and white, occurs. These set us up to appreciate the value of stillness. But the movie is a joke. Flama's mom keeps coming back worried that something hasn't been turned off. When she's finally gone the boys peek out and scream with delight. The joke is that their fantasy perfect Sunday isn't going to happen. The non-stop Slayer action is constantly interrupted.

Duck Season makes a bad painting of birds in flight into a huge symbol.

Flama's parents are involved in preparing for a bitter divorce, and the painting is one of the biggest bones of contention. Flama's own imbitteredness is reflected in his mastery of the cruel put-down. Curly-haired, cupid-lipped Moko has been his pal forever. It's not clear whether Moko gets turned on by Flama or it's merely that all his memories of getting turned on involve Flama because they're always together. Director Fernando Eimbcke worked with the young actors to invent his plot. There are in fact many films where nothing happens and they are the hardest to describe, because "nothing happens" means that every tiny detail is a plot element.

The pizza man works for a company that pledges no charge if delivery isn't within half an hour. Ulises (Enrique Arreola) is so named because he's sidetracked on his journey and almost never comes back from it. Flama insists he's over the thirty-minute zone by eleven seconds. Ulises challenges that claim but Flama won't pay so the delivery man stays on to play a soccer video game to see who wins. When Rita (Danny Perea) serves them all marijuana brownies, they're deep in Lotusland and nobody's going anywhere for a good long while: the high expands the time that was already stretched for us by being slowed down. Using Ulises as the exemplary traveler, Eimbcke slyly points out that getting stuck is part of any serious journey. He paints well enough with the personalities and habits he had on hand to create elegance and meaning. Moko's confused, emerging sexuality, Rita's concealed loneliness, Ulises' dreams of return to San Juan (his Ithaka), Flama's anger at his divorcing parents' petty squabbles, are so cunningly engraved on the plot's minimal surface that they stay with you.

As the pizza man's name shows, this dull Sunday in a Mexico City apartment is a wild and rather dangerous journey. Despite the natural opacity of fourteen-year-old boys – which we'd never have penetrated if they'd kept playing their video games – everyone reveals themselves in Duck Season. Slowing down action opens up character.

As film critic Michaël Melinard of the Paris newspaper L'Humanité says, Eimbcke needs to be grouped with the new Mexican filmmaker elite – Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Carlos Regadas. Jane Austen, one of the greatest novelists in English, famously described her marvelous books – whose social scale was indeed restricted – as "the little piece of ivory on which I work." Eimbcke works on a little piece of ivory in Duck Season too, and his social scale is as restricted as Jane Austen's, but he has a knack for getting close to his characters, and he shows us that in the right hands less is more.

Good, But Not For Everyone

[nputnam · 7/10 · 2 October 2006]

This is not the sort of movie you can recommend to friends without some significant reservations. The pacing can be excruciatingly slow. The movie takes place on a single Sunday afternoon and evening. Many questions are raised and few are answered. If you are not particularly interested in the vicissitudes of early adolescence, especially in boys, there may be little in this film to hold your interest. Creatively filmed in black and white, the movie imparts a sense of what it must be like to live on the margins of Mexico City in an anonymous, highrise building in an anonymous, gray neighborhood. When the power goes out the boys and their uninvited guests become increasingly involved with each other, sharing feelings, fantasies and a bit of their past. The boys budding sexuality is delicately and tastefully portrayed. This is one of the strengths of the film. Other issues, such as the effect of divorce on a young teenager, loneliness, and a sense missed opportunities in the one adult character are raised, in varying depth. The pizza deliver guy attempts to impart some of his wisdom to one of the boys. Often the camera moves in very close on the actors. If you would like to look in on two boys, good friends, home alone on a Sunday afternoon, as their routines and expectations are slowly turned upside down by a slightly older girl, a sensitive, alienated Pizza delivery man, and some very special brownies, you will like Duck Season.

Outstanding Film

[FabioRJ · 9/10 · 29 September 2004]

This is a wonderful example of the freshness in contemporary Mexican cinema. It's the story of two fourteen-year-old boys, who've been best friends for a long time. They get the chance to spend a whole day all by themselves at home playing video game and eating junk food. What they expected to be a quiet and pleasant day ends up being a total mess after the arrival of a teenage girl neighbor and a pizza delivery guy. Most of the film is a comedy which made everybody in the cinema laugh out loud. But the character building is so wonderfully done, that one gets very interested. In the beginning, the director made 2 or 3 minutes entirely of shots of the neighborhood in which the boys live. He makes us feel exactly how it is to live there. Also there's a slight theme of homosexuality (one boy realizes that he may be falling in love with the other one) that is very well developed.

It's basically a bittersweet story with really funny moments and outstanding actors performances, direction, screenplay and cinematography (the film was shot in black and white). It won 7 prizes, including best film, best director and best actress in the last Guadalajara Film Festival. A must-see!

Artistic, hence too documentary and protracted

[BeneCumb · 6/10 · 27 January 2015]

What did I see within about 1 hour and 20 minutes? A black-and-white depiction of things what 2 young schoolboys and 1 older schoolgirl do when/if they are left alone... And if a pizza man refuses to leave. Well, mostly trivial things, and non-trivial ones are not inviting, as they are partially over-sophisticated, partially incomplete... True, directing and camera-work are distinct and uncommon, but they are the main values of Temporada de patos to me. Performances are so-so, not memorable, and the logic of events is not always clear or well explained. The ending leaves to be desired as well.

Yeah, it is a film about young teens - but not for teens, especially who live "in the now", who prefer more eventful fun and hanging about. Thus, a film for art's sake - or vice versa, but its means and goals did not get through my head in full.

True Feeling

[coreyankee3 · 10/10 · 12 March 2006]

This movie is brilliantly written. If any have seen Y tu Mama Tambien, the writer found a way to basically condense the time of that movie (which was over a period of many months) to the time frame of this movie (which is less than a day). It provokes a very similar feeling at the end of the movie- a feeling of absence, of lost friendship, a feeling of a life now changed. The whole movie itself, until the ending, captures the lives of these two boys in such a short amount of time. You can see a strong friendship that (even though you only see 8 hours of it) you can tell what the whole lifelong friendship was like. There is hilarious dialogue that takes place, and some very funny things. I think many people may not get the humor of a lot of it, but most will enjoy the randomness/hilarity of a lot of the dialogue. The filming is a bit uncomfortable at first, as the camera doesn't move and just stays put. After a while, it becomes much more comfortable- where you suddenly feel like you are a fly on the wall. This was a good choice by the director, and it really made the movie!

Brilliant!

tEMPORADA DE pATOS, great photography

[asuka__02 · 10/10 · 3 January 2005]

I think this movie is exceptionally great. I goes to show that a good film does not need of an elaborate scenery or a super script to be good or funny. The photography by Alexis Zabe was amazing; Situated in Tlatelolco, a place where many remember the killing of 68(read your history people)It shows a side of Mexico city that many people don't know. Since its stereotyped as the city with the highest crime rates in Latin America, in a way we are invited to a small fraction of the lives of 4 people. That is what I liked the most about the film, its mainly centered on day to day problems.

If you are not a native speaker, many of the jokes can be lost. other than that I recommend it fully.

best quote:

"vayase a la mierda, corrame. me vale pito"

This is what passes as a "good movie" nowadays?

[Dart_Adams · 3/10 · 7 September 2006]

***SPOILER ALERT*** (KINDA, ANYWAYS)

I love independent films. I love international films. I love character driven films without special effects set in few locations that are sometimes in black and white. I saw the trailer for "Duck Season" on IFC (A channel I watch regularly) a year ago...I thought that it looked interesting so I put it on my Netflix queue.

I just watched it yesterday and I have to say that I was bored out of my mind. I was completely uninterested in anything that happened to these kids...I waited for some element of the film to spring up and draw me in someway. I really wanted to like this movie. It was dull, bland, uninspired and I pretty much had to FORCE myself to see it all the way through.

I understood the symbolism, the coming of age tale, the friendship, the pizza delivery mans internal struggles, the gay undertones, the symbolism of the duck painting that the parents are fighting over, blah, blah, blah....The problem is that I just didn't care for ANY of the characters. Nothing the director did made me care about their plights, nothing that happened in that film made me want to invest anything in them. Not the *ahem* "action", not the dialogue, not the "conflicts", nor the characters....NOTHING.

I was bored after an hour and the film is UNDER 90 MINUTES LONG! I felt like I was sitting there waiting for something to happen...nothing did....Well, it DID...I just didn't care when it did. Who lets a stranger take a bath in their tub? Especially an adult? Fifteen minutes of high people staring at a painting of ducks doesn't do it for me. The last time I was this frustrated and disappointed in a film was Junebug. This gets a 3 out of 10 from me...I don't know what the rest of you were watching but this "film" did NOTHING for me. One.

a beautifully under stated film that neatly encapsulates the ennui that adolescence can bring

[john-984 · 10/10 · 25 May 2005]

No special effects, frenetic, head-spinning editing here - just a simple story about a day in the lives of two 14 ear old Mexican boys that turns out to be anything but typical. Eimbcke is clearly a major talent in the making,the simplicity belies his canniness and empathy with the human condition. The comparisons with Jim Jarmusch's low key delights are valid, there is a similar languid economy of action, there are also shades of Beckett here too, and Eimbcke has an eye that finds beauty and humour in the most mundane situations.The playing is wonderful throughout, Catano as Moko and Miranda as his pal Flama are the films core and things seem to happen around them, rather than to them, the catalysts are pretty teenager Rita (Perea)the neighbour in need of an oven, and hapless pizza delivery man Ulises (Arreola). I suppose at the film's core is the redemptive power of friendships,as in "Gregory's Girl" or "Stand by Me" both of which share an intuitive insight into adolescence and teenage awakening. There is even a hilarious post credit coda for all us credit fiends that clog up the aisles once the film ends!Simple,heartwarming, surreal and ultimately uplifting. Unmissible.

Terrific Film!

[roxieandjjroco · 14 January 2005]

I just saw Duck Season today at the Palm Springs Film Festival and loved this film. People of all ages were in the theater and we all were laughing throughout the film. This film was great on all levels. I liked that it was filmed in black and white which was a nice touch. The actors were great. The story was fantastic! The director did a great job with the creativity of this film. I marked "Superb" on my ballot. This film needs to be released!!! It would be very popular due to its artistic flare, and people want to see movies that move them in all directions which this film does. A funny, creative, playful, thoughtful film!

Thanks to all who made this film and shared it with us!

Roxie Roco :)

Excellent movie!

[cguisa · 10/10 · 4 November 2004]

Well, first of all, this is not an action movie, here you won't see any dead people or car chases, but you will leave the theater very happy because you've just seen an excellent piece of movie making. It's basically the story of two teenagers that are left home alone any given Sunday and they decide to spend all day playing videogames, eating pizza and drinking soda, what else in the world a couple of teens could ask for? but then, something happens that changes their original plans and they have to spend the Sunday doing other things. This is a movie that shows us that underneath the surface there are always beautiful things and that we always have second chances, every day is a good day to start all over again. Wonderful movie, don't miss it if you have the opportunity to see it. 10 out 10

street funny -as urban kids are

[agaluro · 9/10 · 16 May 2004]

Not only Fernando Eimbcke challenged himself to shoot a movie inside of an apartment but he casted three kids without any experience in acting. The result is an original realistic movie with truly funny young characters. And yes: there are guns, drugs, flirting and bare buttocks but in a unworried way -enough to be fun and not scary. It is Eimbcke's opera prima for a long movie and he proved that his experience directing music videoclips and comedic short movies is a good foundation for this movie. He already got seven "mayahueles" at the Guadalajara Film Festival, a MTV Movie Award and he got his chance of showing Duck Season at the International Critics Week in Cannes 2004.

A film that actually tries something different...

[Kandinsky_MX · 10/10 · 16 November 2004]

This is a film without the snobism and pretentious approaches to Mexican culture. First, I don't see it as an art film. Anyone who's trying to disqualify this movie because is "artsy" it's way wrong.

The story begins with two boys being left alone in a apartment, it's mid-Sunday and the only things to do it's to play Halo, eat pizza and drink a gigantic Coke. Visually the films captures the very essence of the plot: it's boring, but in a good way. The camera doesn't makes any pan, or zoom..it doesn't move at all, just clean cuts between takes. Every take is almost a scene. Did i mention is shoot in glorious black and white? Yet, there's not a single moment you are not pushed (as the characters) to become entertained. And basically that's the whole point of the movie, to see how boring is just and excuse we make to resist the simplicity of life. Don't go to see this movie expecting, an extraordinary thespian ability, or and overwhelming cinematography, this is a story with soul, presented in an original and fresh way. There's people saying this film is just marketing and no product. First, this movie doesn't relies on nonsense soundtracks cd's, or posters or enormous displays to attract audience, they trust in the word of mouth system, the production company plays it for free somewhere and the rest is up to you and me. Don't try to get too philosophical with this one, just enjoy, like if you don't have anything better to do. 10/10

oh please, don't...

[sternblume · 1/10 · 29 December 2006]

I'd like to apologize to the whole world on behalf of whoever came up with the idea of making this lousy movie. I'm Mexican, I beg you not to believe all Mexican are as stupid as the actors were. I just hated the movie. So dull, so boring and stupid. Yeah, the Black & White effect gives it a special touch but, personally, it's the worst movie I've ever seen. The story is everything but interesting, everything goes on so slowly you feel like banging your head against the screen until you crack it, just to see if adding some red color things spice up a bit. No luck, though. (I can't figure out how did it get a 7+ rating, honestly)

Another Golden Age of Mexican movies?

[rcashdan · 30 January 2005]

If you want to have a good time, go to this movie. Notice I didn't feel impelled to be pretentious and say film. This black and white movie is like a Woody Allen film but with at least two of the characterizations more three-dimensional. I won't ever forget the excitement of sitting in the front row of a 1200 person theater and hearing everyone laugh at once. And the excitement or of seeing video games widescreen just a few feet away--I was on the edge of my seat. Another great scene: watching whether the pizza deliveryman would beat the clock as he raced to the top floor of the apartment building. And then there was the visiting neighbor girl who could give Diane Keaton a run for the money. The key to this wonderful comedy in its perfect timing. After the movie which I saw at the Festival of Cortometraje in Guanajuato, Mexico, I met Paula Markevich, who polished the script. She told me she kept changing lines while she watched the boys rehearse. A film made with tenderness, humor and care. Enjoy, enjoy!

magnificent

[spineshank_stk · 10/10 · 24 October 2004]

Prior to watching this film, I had read that it was partially influenced by Tarkovski's and Bergman's works, and even though those are some rather exciting influences, I thought the film could've have come out a bit clichéd ala Japon, well, whoever said that those directors were the main influences for Temporada de Patos was wrong and I was gladly surprised to see such a refreshing and at the same time simple visual style, I could come up with some distant comparisons considering Eimbcke's visual style such as Haneke's The Seventh Continent and at times with Tsai Ming-Liang's What Time Is it There, but other than that I loved the camera work and numerous scenes throughout the film, and aside from having such a good visual style, the acting was superb and the story was nothing short of magnificent containing numerous themes within it's subcontext which were subtly expressed making the characters personality extremely interesting, my only complaint would be that the film drags at times but other than than, an amazing work.

A look at triviality of life. Another breath of fresh air from Mexican Cinema!

[ponteakabridge · 9/10 · 15 March 2007]

Simple and fresh. Those are the adjectives that better describe "Duck Season". A funny and genuine look at an ordinary Sunday afternoon in the life of two 14 year old kids, with video games, pizza, Coca Cola and the typical issues of early adolescence (the discovery of sexuality, parent's divorce, the loss of a friend, etc.), which anyone who was once 14 can relate to (specially guys, considering the two main characters). The film's simplicity, both technically and conceptually only make it more enjoyable and it's themes speak to pretty much everyone. The cast obviously contributes to that. Specially Diego Catano and Daniel Miranda, are both great and it's almost like they're not acting at all, of how real they seem. Just two best friends hanging out.

It's easy and inevitable to link it to Kevin Smith's "Clerks", a 'sacred monster' of Indie film. Has that same approach to the often fascinating ordinarity of life, some hilarious and brilliant dialogues, and it's also done in Black and White. Like I said, this film is pure simplicity. There's no deep, philosophical purpose here, just watch for the fun, and maybe in the end you'll be able to unveil some 'message' in it.

Two thumbs WAY up for Fernando Eimbcke! Hasn't been 'blessed' (at all) with the same opportunities and, consequently, recognition of the 'Three Amigos', his fellow countrymen (Inarritu, del Toro and Cuaron) but may very well be as talented as them, being as well a part of the freshness of this new generation of Mexican Cinema. Hope he has the chance to make some new films in a near future. For now, can't recommend "Duck Season" enough!

A Moment's Pause Before Resuming the Current of Life

[nycritic · 10/10 · 31 August 2006]

Imagine the most unremarkable series of events taking place any given day of your life. Then imagine that within those trivial moments in which you life your life, something new is added -- the sneaky, near-invisible element of human baggage and quiet awakenings -- and you have yourself the story that unfolds in TEMPORADA DE PATOS (DUCK SEASON).

A mother leaves her fourteen-year old son Flama (Daniel Miranda) alone in the tenement apartment where she lives in Mexico City to go visit her sister. He's with his best buddy Moko (Diego Catano), and they both pass time playing violent video games. A neighbor, an older girl named Rita (Danny Perea) pops in to use the oven because hers isn't working and she's baking a cake. Bored and hungry, the boys order pizza.

Its late arrival (which the delivery man, Ulises (Enrique Arreola), vehemently denies) is the fulcrum of the events that build up the story's thin plot. The boys feel they shouldn't have to pay, to which Ulises decides he won't leave without his payment. First he sits rather menacingly at the door, but the boys decide maybe it's best to play a video game with Ulises. If they win, their pizza is free; if they lose, they must pay.

Meanwhile, Rita continues making her cake, making little appearances here and there. She seems lonely and tries to insinuate herself into the threesome... and when the power goes out, her asking Moko for help in finishing making her cake hints that she's there for a little more than just borrowing their kitchen for the afternoon.

The boys lose to Ulises. Flama reluctantly pays up, insulting Ulises with an ugly smooch. Ulises' frustration finally makes its appearance as he hits (and cuts) Flama, but to make up for his horrible yet brief moment of violence makes him retreat his steps, and his tragic story unfolds...

Watching TEMPORADA DE PATOS made me feel of those short, unassuming stories I used to read in high school that in their brevity managed to say a whole lot more than a grandiose novel. The way the foursome's inner motives play against and with each other comes in the most unexpected ways, and Fernando Eimbecke's approach is that of an almost improvised movie that unfolds its treasures in minute yet poignant ways. I thought it was impressive, because the initial appearance of Ulises seems to warrant a creepiness that I did not open myself to; however, the longer he stayed in the story, the deeper it became. This becomes true due to the fact that while all of them acknowledge the presence of the most invisible picture in the living room -- the type of picture prevalent in many Hispanic homes, depicting pastoral scenes -- Ulises is the one who really comes to realize its significance.

TEMPORADA DE PATOS is a rarity that people tired with the norm should pay attention to. It's funny, but not in the way one would expect (and check that last scene after the end credits!). It's sad, because of the hinted isolation in which all of the characters are caught in. It's hopeful and uplifting, and I loved it for its honesty.

"niños héroes"

[susansotelo · 8/10 · 30 September 2006]

I am not surprised that the under 18 crowd gives this movie a better rating than adults. Basically this is a story of children surviving the mistakes of their parents. The boys, and Rita, are heroes (niños héroes), survivors of the modern phenomenon of being on their own, essentially restricted to home when not at school. Their imaginations are confined to indoor activities, lazy ones: for the boys, playing video games, and for Rita, imagining adulthood, which includes cooking. It becomes obvious that Rita has never done any cooking. The film begins with a quick panoramic view of where the action will take place. Significantly, the playground swings close to the apartment building will not be part of the movie's set. Then the camera focuses on the particular apartment block of the 3 children. It's name is "Niños Héroes". In 1847 the US invaded Mexico ("from the Halls of Moctezuma…" the Mexican- American War). In Mexico City the last defense was the Military Academy. The US prevailed and the 6 teenage cadets, "los niños héroes" died. At the time Mexico's 'adults', i.e. the government, was a total disaster; Santa Ana was again the President. The title "Temporada de patos" or "Duck Season" also reflects this historic assault by a large adult army on a group, 'flock', of children, 'ducks'. The movie has a lot of laughs, and does not, unlike the history of the "niños héroes" end in tragedy. Kids can be survivors. The pizza delivery guy saves the painting of their flight, their survival.

COME ON!!! the worst ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vivamovies · 1/10 · 9 August 2006]

I can't believe everybody loves this film. Perhaps I'm wrong, but this is maybe the worst Mexican movie EVER!!!! It has no rhythm, the editing is awful, the performances are good enough, but COME ON!!!! it is not even close to Sobrenatural, Cronos, Solo con tu pareja, Y tu mama tambien. I mean, if you like Mexican movies you can't be serious if you think Temporada de patos is a masterpiece. For those who haven't watching it, trust me before minute 20 you'll be snoring. But the same happened in Mexico, somehow all those who believe that are film experts and critics loved the movie. But it passed through theaters as fast as the wind. Don't get cheated!!!

Overpraised

[revolutioner · 29 April 2005]

As usual, IMDb voters are VERY easily entertained. "Duck Season" was a big disappointment to me. It is played more for laughs although there were some poignant moments, too. Unfortunately, I was starting to feel as bored as some of the characters. Could have done without the "dead animals" scene, it really wasn't necessary. The film was also shot in B&W which surprised me but seemed appropriate. There isn't a lot of meat here, but if you like character studies, it isn't bad. Enrique Arreola as the pizza guy gives a very good performance. The younger actors weren't that convincing.

5/10