Original title: Snotty Boy or Rotzbud
Direction: Santiago López Jóver and Marcus Rosenmüller
Genre: 3D Animation, Comedy
Austria, Germany, 2021
Duration: 86 minutes
Irreverent, hooligan, funny, acid… and, above all, very critical: that is, in a few words, “Chico brat”. Directed by the Spaniard Santiago López Jóver and the German Marcus H. Rosenmüller, the film, which premieres in Spain on January 21, is a surreal animated film, inspired by the life, art and aesthetics of the satyr Austrian cartoonist Manfred Deix, whose style was called "feista".
With a very original design, in 3D, the film was selected in the official section of the ANNECY 2021 Animated Film Festival, one of the best in the world, which is already a guarantee of quality.
The film is a different option for watching animated films, away from the American-style blockbusters. It's fresh, crazy, reflects on society and defends individual and fundamental freedoms, something that, today, we can't always be proud of. For this reason, with this philosophy, “Chico brat” becomes a truly “educational” film for both young people and adults. But, instructive without being dogmatic, approached from a more acidic, free, original, even eschatological point of view, which, at no time, lacks humor and good taste.
The story tells of the life of Markus, a boy who lives, bored and cut off by the narrow-mindedness of his neighbors, in a small retrograde and boring Austrian town, where what is different is criticized and even savagely attacked. It is the 60s and while Markus reveals himself to be a budding painter, making amusing erotic sketches of masturbation reminiscences, which he sells with his two friends, former Nazis, smug authorities, the abusive priest and a string of characters persist in the town. Which one is more horrible? The pursuit of what is different is unleashed the day some gypsy vendors arrive in the village, among whom is the young, lively and beautiful Mariolina, with whom Markus falls in love. The film reflects, in a very intelligent way, this criticism of what is different, this need to respect others and does so with grace and impudence, through images of impressive realism. Entertaining, with a brilliant and cheeky script, "Boy brat" brings a rebellious touch as an animated film, far from the prevailing kitsch of many of them. In this way, the film, as they say, does not leave a “puppet with a head”. There is a staunch criticism of conservatism, of social hypocrisy, of racism, but it also extols, with some good and upright characters, the value of dreams, art, freedom, filial affection, love and good intentions. In this kind of Austrian yin and yang of animation, morals and ethics are told in a wonderful way thanks to a different aesthetic. In addition, for moviegoers, there are cinematographic reminiscences of films such as “ET” (Steven Spielberg), “Amarcord” (Federico Fellini), “Porky's” (Bob Clark) or “Kiss me deadly” (Robert Aldrich), among others. "Chico brat" is, therefore, a highly recommended film to reconcile us with true animated cinema.
Premiere in Spain, on January 21
Carmen Pineda placeholder image