Sugar Kisses

This puppy love story stars César Kancino as 13-year-old Nacho, a much-neglected and emotionally abused boy in Mexico City. Abandoned by his father, Nacho lives with a mom who despises him, and a lowlife stepfather who runs a sex-shop in an outdoor market stall controlled by a local crime boss (Veronica Falcón). The latter has an iron grip on many neighborhood businesses as well as the police and black market. The boss also has a lovely daughter, Mayra (Daniela Arce), with whom Nacho develops a dangerous infatuation. While the world seems to close in around Nacho at home, his courtship of Mayra brings both children some happiness, even if Mayra's thuggish mom brutally disapproves. Carlos Cuarón directs from the point-of-view of a boy who more or less has become a pariah in his community, and has little to lose by fighting for what he wants. The street scenes, back alleys, and out of the way stairwells offer a kind of hidden-city feel that gives Sugar Kisses a tough authenticity. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette (17 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (T. Keogh)