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SLIFF 2010 Review: ME, TOO! – We Are Movie Geeks

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SLIFF 2010 Review: ME, TOO!

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Are you tired of movies about the disabled members of our society being sappy, unrealistic feel-good movies or ridiculously over-emotional tissue-inducing sob stories? ME, TOO! Actually, that’s the title of the exception to this unfortunate rule, a Spanish film co-directed by Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro.

The film begins — and I have to admit this makes me feel like a bit of a heel for being so shocked – with a fantastic opening on a dance class for people with Down’s syndrome. The talent of these dancers was impressive. This segues into the focus of ME, TOO!

Daniel, played by Pablo Pineda, is a remarkable adult with Down’s syndrome, having been the first such person to graduate from University. Daniel’s has loving parents; his father supportive, his mother perhaps a bit over-protective. Daniel has a good office job and is generally happy, but longs for an intimate relationship just as much as anyone else.

Daniel’s co-worker Laura, played by Lola Duenas, is an attractive and free-spirited blond woman looking for love and affection in al the wrong places. As she goes through one-night stands from clubs like Kleenex in a shrink’s office, Daniel finds himself infatuated by her liveliness and energy.

Despite his mother’s objections and his co-workers’ disbelief, Daniel and Laura develop a relationship against all odds, complimenting each other well. Their personalities couldn’t be more opposite, but as they say… opposites attract. What makes ME, TOO! different than the average love story is that it takes a tricky social taboo and address the possibilities with intelligence and respect.

I love a “good” love story just as much as the next guy — well, maybe that’s too much information – but, the concept of “love” permeates virtually every story we’ve told as a culturally endowed species. The candid nature of ME, TOO! Is possibly best illustrated by a scene on an elevator, when Daniel and Laura have some fun with a fellow passenger. Daniel role-plays a typical stereotype image of a mentally handicapped person while Laura pretends to be cruel and uncaring, as many people are in real life. Daniel and Laura are well aware of the absurdity of the situation, but the joke is on the lady in the elevator.

The low-res, cinema verite style of ME, TOO! Is a welcome choice, giving the film a slightly home video appeal and a spontaneity that adds to the youthful vibrancy of their relationship. Pineda and Duenas both give outstanding performances, giving their relationship a remarkable sincerity. Both also received best acting awards for their roles.

This is an excellent film that offers brilliantly thoughtful scenes addressing real adult situations, with real emotional consequences. ME, TOO! is one of the best non-traditional love stories I’ve seen since HAROLD AND MAUDE.

ME, TOO! will play during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival on Thursday, November 18th at 2:15 pm and on Friday, November 19th at 4:15 pm at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

Hopeless film enthusiast; reborn comic book geek; artist; collector; cookie connoisseur; curious to no end