Manito (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Eric Eason

Writer:

Eric Eason (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

Fifteen years ago, their Washington Heights neighborhood was dubbed the crack-cocaine capital of the world...

Plot Keywords:

Brothers | Graduation | Washington Heights | Bilingual | New York City

Awards:

8 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Franky G	...	Junior Moreno
Leo Minaya	...	Manny Moreno
Manuel Cabral	...	Oscar Moreno (as Manuel Jesus Cabral)
Jessica Morales	...	Marisol
Julissa Lopez	...	Miriam Moreno
Héctor González	...	Abuelo
Panchito Gómez	...	Rodchenko
Lavidania Ramirez	...	Anita (Oscar's Wife)
Casper Martinez	...	Enrique
Lou Torres	...	Bartender
Adeal Irizarry	...	Hercules
Edwin De Leon	...	Roberto (as Edwin Morel DeLeon)
Jeff Knite	...	Ignacio (as Jeff Asencio)
Jay Dog	...	Mugger #1
Gilly Delgado	...	Mugger #2

Runtime:

78 min | Argentina:79 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

7th Floor, The

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

El Seguro Paga (Choca Choca)

Bravo! A stirring film of tremedous power!

Here is a film (along with "City of God") that explores a violent world infested by drugs--and uses a cast of non-professional actors. Shot for much less money than the Brazilian masterpiece, Manito is something of a "minor masterpiece". I had heard that the images and editing are jarring. But I discovered it to be, on the contrary, a beautifully photographed film, the grain structure of which reminded me of 8mm Ecktachrome stocks from the 1960s...Furthermore, the camera choreography is a daring risk to mimick the exuberance of a passionate family in the throes of a tumultuous celebration that turns to tragedy. This is a style that could not be more perfectly suited to the material. The highest compliment one can say about these incredibly brutal yet beautiful images is that nothing like this has ever been seen before. "Manito" is better than virtually every other film made in America this year. That's not saying a whole hell of lot in year that has given us one bomb after the next. But "Manito" is a significant achievement.