On the Road, Somewhere

In the Dominican Republic, three teen boys—Oliver (Arnold Martinez), Moises (Javier Grullón), and Hemingway (Victor Alfonso)—on a post-graduation road trip seek adventure while Oliver meets up with his college-bound girlfriend. First-time feature filmmaker Guillermo Zouain brings a well-crafted but freewheeling sensibility to this tale, in which the naïve, unformed near-adult protagonists encounter unpredictable moments of real life and fate that will leave lasting memories. Along the way, they meet a famous photographer, a gardener, and a little girl who faces tragedy moments after exchanging a laugh with one of the boys. The breakdown of the trio's car propels them even further into the unknown, but in the best sense—forcing them to abandon preconceived ideas about what lies ahead and surrendering to the real journey. The young actors are solid in this effective character study of friends supporting one another's aspirations and dreams. Recommended. (T. Keogh)