film synopsis
Fast-paced, funny and full of piquant observations about Paraguayan society, Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schembori’s clever heist movie is old-fashioned entertainment in the best sense of the phrase: its focus on story and character keep the plot humming along.
Good-natured and clever to a fault, newspaper delivery boy Manu dreams of a life of opulence and wealth, one far beyond his shantytown outside Asunción. Given a book on his nation’s history by his once-thrill-seeking grandfather, Manu discovers a weathered treasure map hidden within, and visions of untold wealth begin to float before his eyes. Enlisting the help of his manic best friend Fito and the cautious local café owner Elio, Manu sets out to uncover a hidden fortune. But they quickly discover that Paraguay—as well as a colorful cast of locals just as desperate to escape poverty—does not give up its secrets easily.
In competition for the the Cine Latino Award, the New Voices New Visions Award, and the FIPRESCI Prize.