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I didn't intend to see "Super Amigos"...it wasn't anywhere near the top of my must-see list (to tell you the truth, it wasn't even on the list). But it ended up at the top of my list of favorite films at this year's IFFB.
My plan was to see the 8:15 screening of "Hannah Takes The Stairs" . So after biding my time for an hour after the cocktails with the directors event and skipping out on the 7pm film I wanted to see...I was ready to join Hannah on her stair climbing journey. The only problem being--there was no 8:15 screening. My options at this point became (a.)Go home (b.)Kill 2 hours until the actual screening of "Hannah Takes The Stairs" at 10:15 by consuming massive amounts of alcohol at local pubs. Or (c.) watch the only movie starting at that time---"Super Amigos".
For those of you who didn't memorize the festival film listing, "Super Amigos" is a documentary about a "group of five masked Lucha Libre wrestlers take to the streets of Mexico City fighting against evil slumlords, corrupt politicians, homophobia, pollution, animal rights abusers, and poverty. Though their true identities remain a mystery, these real life super heroes could easily be Mexico City's most popular figures and greatest hope."
This documentary had it all...it was inspirational, entertaining, educational. I laughed, I cried, I cried some more---I get very emotional in the face of social injustice, and even more emotional watching underdogs rise from beneath it to tackle it head on (masked and spandexed to top it all off). Each of the 5 masked hero's transformation from mere mortal was told beautifully through the use of comic book inspired animation. Their philosophies and highlights of their "work" are interwoven throughout to create an inspirational tapestry of human compassion and achievement. All in all---I am very glad I chose option (c.) from my list above...it saved me a night of drunken singing in the streets(which I was able to put off till Saturday night), and helped to open my eyes and heart to the real heroes all around us(at least on our continent)...
So I am off to buy a sexy Lucha Libre mask and create my own world saving wrestling hero--Super Femme Nikita....or something like that...
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