Watch PELO MALO

"Pelo Malo" (Bad Hair) is a Venezuelan drama film from 2013 directed and written by Mariana Rondón. The movie tells the story of Junior (Samuel Lange Zambrano), a nine-year-old boy from Caracas who dreams of straightening his curly hair to look like a pop star. However, his hair becomes a source of conflicts with his mother Marta (Samantha Castillo) who sees it as a sign of his homosexuality.

Junior is a shy and introverted child who lives with his mother and baby brother. He spends most of his time alone, experimenting with his looks and dance moves, and watching music videos on TV. His mother is a hard-working single parent who sells empanadas to make a living. She loves her son, but she's also struggling with financial problems and the absence of a father figure.

Junior's desire to straighten his hair becomes more intense when a casting director for a children's TV show comes to his neighborhood looking for talent. Junior gets excited and starts rehearsing a dance routine, but Marta doesn't approve. She tells him that his hair is too long and unkempt, and that he needs to cut it. Junior refuses and a series of arguments and misunderstandings arise between them.

Marta's rejection of Junior's hair reflects deeper issues in their relationship. She is worried that his perceived effeminacy and unconventional appearance will cause him to be bullied and discriminated against. She also fears that he may be gay, a possibility that she cannot accept due to her religious beliefs and societal pressures.

The film is a poignant and insightful portrait of a mother-son relationship that is strained by class, gender, and cultural conflicts. The director portrays the characters with sensitivity and nuance, avoiding the clichés and stereotypes that often afflict films about marginalized communities. The actors deliver authentic and heartfelt performances, especially Samuel Lange Zambrano, who gives a remarkable performance as Junior.

"Pelo Malo" also addresses larger social issues such as poverty, prejudice, and homophobia in a realistic and meaningful way. The film depicts the struggles of a working-class family in a rapidly changing and unequal society, where the values and expectations of the dominant culture clash with those of the marginalized communities.

In conclusion, "Pelo Malo" is an outstanding film that deserves to be seen and appreciated by a wider audience. It combines a personal and intimate story with a critical and insightful perspective on social issues, making it a powerful and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

PELO MALO is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 74.