This heartwarming drama is a mystical and magical tale of an 11-year-old Afro-Uruguayan boy named Obdulio (Mathias Acuna) who learns how his formal education is a necessity in the ghetto community where he lives. All this is set against a backstory of Uruguay's Carnival festivities.

Hard-working Obdulio lives with his grandmother and sells newspapers for a local newsstand vender. On a daily basis Obdulio must guard against being robbed by the neighborhood bullies. His plans are to provide an income for his family and save money for his two sisters' school uniforms.

Even though he sells newspapapers, he can't read or write and is not interested in going to school until he meets a charismatic night watchman at the newspaper office named Maestro (Jorge Esmoris), who opens up the world of literacy to him. Their relationship grows while Maestro teaches Obdulio how to read and write through the lyrics of "Murgas" (Carnival Pierrots) during the mythical nights they celebrate. It seems the bonding of the two gives Obdulio the magical gift of learning and teaching him life.

Watching this movie is a magical, mystical, and musical experience. Each frame gave me a feeling of involvement in this boy's life, enhanced by the director's eye for color and imaginary sets of realism and surrealism. The young actor Mathias Acuna a newcomer to the film industry but carries his share of the script as though he was formally trained, even though he wasn't. The film was created with the intention putting a spotlight on missing children in Uruguay, but seems to put all its emphasis on literacy. Don't get me wrong - both topics are equally important. That's why this film is both genuine and magnificent.

Director/Screenwriter: Leonardo Ricagni
Run time: 100 mins.
Release date: April 20, 2007
Genre: Drama/Fantasy in Spanish with English subtitles
Distributor: ArtMattan Productions
MPAA Rating: Not Rated