Trash (2014)
Certified: 15
Duration: 114 minutes
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Starring: Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, Wagner Moura, Selton Mello, Stepan Nercessian, Rickson Teves, Eduardo Luis, Gabriel Weinstein, Pedro Pauleey, Nelson Xavier, Leandro Firmino
KRS Releasing Ltd
Trash is an adaptation of Andy Mulligan’s novel and, while aimed at young adults, the resulting film will appeal to a wide audience.
The film sees José Angelo (Wagner Moura), a seemingly well-to-do man who throws away his wallet into a garbage truck when he is caught in a police raid. He ends up being killed by the police.
The wallet ends up in the local mountainous trash heap whereit is found by a young boy named Raphael (Rickson Teves), who takes the money and shares it with his friend Gardo (Eduardo Lewis).
When the police come to the trash heap and offer a reward to whoever finds the wallet, Raphael starts becoming suspicious.
The young cast’s energy and joie de vivre is infectious
In the wallet he had found a key and he and Gardo discuss this with their other friend Rato (Gabriel Weinstein). Soon the group realises that the key is similar to one of those used for lockers in the downtown area. Once they find the appropriate locker and open it, they find a paper with a code scribbled on it.
When they return to their part of town, they visit Fr Julliard (Martin Sheen), who is one of the few to have internet access in the area and who lets them use it.
The father has been in the favelas for quite some time and has grown weary of the situation there. Sr Olivia (Rooney Mara), who teaches English, also tries to help.
The boys keep their find a secret but suspicions soon start to fall on the boys. Various elements come into play as the web starts to become more tangled. The stakes are much higher than the boys can ever imagine, as people high up in the power ladder are involved and the stakes and danger increase in proportion.
The film is rich and colourful and its young cast’s energy and joie de vivre is infectious.
It is inevitable that the audience will side with the boys as the story takes on such a classic David v Goliath setting. Besides, the three main protagonists are so natural in their role and their camaraderie looks spontaneous and tangible.
Daldry’s camera embraces them and brings them into our attention with a sweet syrupy coating of honeyed sentiment. They steal the spotlight from the adults and one will vie for them when they are chased to and fro in the city. It’s very difficult not to end up shedding a tear and two for these boys and also get caught in the thrill of their adventures.
The city of Rio De Janeiro comes alive in this film and for once we are not given the tourist trip. Last year’s World Cup had shown the deep troubles that lie in this city and in the divisions among the rich and poor.
The film looks good as cinematographer Adriano Goldman provides a good viewpoint. There’s nothing trashy about this film apart from its name.