Parapalos

Ana Poliak

IndieLisboa 2005 •

Argentina, Fiction, 2004, 93′

A young country boy, Adrián, tries to make his life in Buenos Aires. He moves into the modest one-room apartment of his cousin Nancy and finds a job as pin boy, putting up bowling pins and returning balls, in one of the few remaining manual bowling alleys in the city. His work schedule is exactly the opposite of Nancy’s but the brief moments they share are full of warmth and mutual respect. Through the connection with his cousin and the other pin boys he tries to find and define his own place in life and society. Adrián is someone who is very curious. He is eager to know and enjoys listening to the stories and philosophies of his colleagues. El Turco is a gem of a teacher and brings humor to the narrow workspace and the job. Nippur is a mixture of a hippy and a heavy metal fan, tattooed, full of dreams and contradictions. Daniel is a man who radiates serenity and kindness. Quiroga used to work in a mine, a job even worse than working at the bowling alley. Adrián, Nancy, El Turco, Nippur, Daniel and Quiroga might be going unnoticed through life and society, but all of them care and have respect for each other.