Betting on seven boxes full of surprises
It’s a scorching day in Asunción, Paraguay, and the general goods marketplace is as busy as it gets. Víctor, a 17-year-old wheelbarrow carter whose life is far from happy, is struggling to make some money. It’s quite hard since the marketplace is a hostile, competitive place with countless carters who do the exact same work. So he always ends up making very little money. However, out of the blue, he gets some good news.
Víctor is asked to carry seven medium-sized boxes to a hidden spot. He has no idea what’s inside the boxes, but couldn’t care less. Why would he ask when he’s going to be paid 100 dollars for the task? For Paraguay, US$100 is a hefty sum and, for Víctor, it’s enough money to buy the awesome cellphone he longs for. So the boy takes up the job and off he goes.
7 boxes, directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schembori, is an unusual film for at least two reasons. It’s from Paraguay, a country with a very small industry whose films are almost never released in Argentina. And it’s a very well executed urban thriller with a vivid portrayal of the country’s reality in a working class environment. In this regards, it’s not to be missed.
Consider that a good thriller calls for a well-thought-out plot, effective action sequences, an interesting investigation, some energetic fights, occasional deaths, nerve-wrecking chases, and enough suspense and surprise to keep viewers on the edge of the their seats.
And 7 boxes features all of the above in generous doses.
Plus the characters, both the leads and the supporting cast, are fleshed out and so become individuals you can identify with and care for. The vicissitudes they go through are also plausible, just like the way they behave, talk, and think. Through them, the filmmakers also draw a portrayal of a bigger scope, that of a harsh social reality.
Perhaps one of the drawbacks is that sometimes the turns of the plot, especially when there are action sequences, overshadow what’s happening to the characters. It’s as though the filmmakers were showing off the quality of their production values more than anything else. This is where 7 Boxes becomes mechanic and repetitive, making you lose some interest.
Otherwise, it’s a good piece of entertainment that fulfills most of the expectations it arises in quite a creative manner. And you will be surprised when you learn what’s inside the boxes, that’s for sure.
