Voces Inocentes/Innocent Voices

Aura · Feb 22, 2009

I'm sure there have been at least a few people that have heard of this movie.

Voces inocentes (English title: Innocent Voices) is a 2004 Mexican film directed by Luis Mandoki. The plot is set during the Salvadoran Civil War in 1980s, and is based on writer Oscar Torres's childhood. The film serves as a general commentary on the military use of children. The movie also shows injustice against innocent people who are forced to fight in the war. It follows the story of the narrator, a boy named Chava.
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Plot:

Chava is 11 years old and the eldest son of Kella. His father has left. His family is living in a town that is currently heavily fought over between the Salvadoran army and the guerrillas. His mother is making a living for the family by sewing, and he is selling the clothes at shops. When he's not in school, Chava helps out by announcing stations for a bus driver. He is nearing the age when the military will recruit him. He witnesses the army recruiting twelve year old children from his school. One day his uncle Beto, who has joined the guerrillas, comes visit them. Beto wants to take Chava with him so the military can't recruit him, but Kella is against it. Beto gives a radio to Chava and tells him how to listen to the guerrillas' banned radio station. Chava takes a risk by playing the station in front of the soldiers, but the town's priest saves him by playing the same station over the church's loudspeaker. Chava falls in love with Cristina Maria. The guerrillas attack the army from the school building and the school is closed. Kella and her family move out of town to her mother to improve their safety. One of the guerrillas tells Chava of the army's next recruitment day, and Chava and his friends warn the whole city to hide their children. Chava wants to visit Maria Cristina, but only finds the bombed-out shell of their house. He and his friends decide to join the guerrillas, but they are followed and the guerrilla camp is attacked by the army. Chava and his friends are taken to be shot near a river, but in the last moment he is saved by a guerrilla attack. He runs home to find his mother in the burnt out ruins of their home. She decides to send him abroad to save him, and he promises to come back and rescue his brother before he becomes twelve.
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It's a very good movie. I'm actually watching it right now. Even if you're not Salvadorian, I recommend that you should watch it.

It will most likely make you cry. XD

Is there anyone that has heard of this movie? And for those of you that have heard of it and seen it, what did you think of the movie?

Discuss.

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Voces Inocentes/Innocent Voices

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