-Written by Kyle Bain.
Matias (Juan Pablo Di Pace) is a struggling filmmaker, attempting to develop a film about an unrequited love from his past. When he’s provided an opportunity to relive that past and to rekindle relationships from before, he understands that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Duino follows Matias, both past and present, as he explores love and the hardship that comes along with it.
I know Di Pace from one thing and one thing only, Fuller House. He plays Kimmy Gibbler’s crazy husband who appears over the top and far-too exaggerated at nearly every opportunity. I don’t hate the character, but when I think of Di Pace, that's what I picture. Duino sees him in a different capacity.
It was nice to see Writer-Director Di Pace in a more serious role, full of emotion in a way that transcends audiences. However, he was able to pour his heart and soul into this film and present the world with a burst of his personality in a different way. The other characters on screen get to be a bit exaggerated, not in an aggressive way, but rather in a way that allows Di Pace to shine through in every fiber of his film. The little that I know about him outside of Duino is that he appears to be this vibrant, sometimes larger-than-life individual, and he brings that to life in a unique way in his film.
The intensity that Di Pace brings to the film, in many capacities, extends far beyond just him and creeps into every crevice of Duino. Di Pace seems to be the hero of the film, but it’s of great importance to note that Duino is co-written and directed by Andrés Pepe Estrada, who would have played an equally pivotal role in developing a film that focuses heavily on drama and the more intense moments in life. This duo creates something that exists in a specific pocket of society, but is able to extend itself in multiple directions, appealing to many viewers from all walks of life.
Duino is a wonderfully beautiful film, one that truly captures the essence of the trauma that Matias has faced throughout the course of his life. There were a handful of times when the emotions that remain right on the surface throughout boil over, become so prominent that they inched me toward a severe visceral response. This is ultimately what Duino does best, focusing on the intensity, on the drama, on the relatability. Even in situations that are wildly different from anything I’ve experienced in life, I found myself connected to Matias, able to understand and appreciate his many struggles. Duino is beautiful in this regard, and this exists throughout the film in its entirety.
What could have easily been a film that I felt disconnected from, quickly becomes something relatable and accessible. Whether it’s the language barrier, the circumstances of the relationships depicted, or something else entirely, there were so many reasons why Duino shouldn’t have worked for me–but it does work, in a series of ways. Duino is a stunning feature that works on a series of levels, with hard-hitting emotional notes throughout.
Written & Directed by Juan Pable Di Pace and Andrés Pepe Estrada.
Starring Juan Pablo Di Pace, Santiago Madrussan, Oscar Morgan, August Wittgenstein, Araceli Gozález, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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