"When Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll unveiled their first feature, 25 Watts, in 2001, critics and audiences began to take notice of Uruguay's small film industry. That interest heightened in 2004 with their groundbreakingWhisky. Since then, a stream of new voices has emerged, many of them having worked on Rebella and Stoll's two features. On both the cast and crew lists of 25 Wattsand Whiskyare the names of filmmakers that the Festival has su...
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"When Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll unveiled their first feature, 25 Watts, in 2001, critics and audiences began to take notice of Uruguay's small film industry. That interest heightened in 2004 with their groundbreakingWhisky. Since then, a stream of new voices has emerged, many of them having worked on Rebella and Stoll's two features. On both the cast and crew lists of 25 Wattsand Whiskyare the names of filmmakers that the Festival has subsequently showcased, including Manuel Nieto Zas (TheDog Pound, 2006) and Federico Veiroj (Acné, 2008). The latest filmmaker to appear from this community is Adrián Biniez, who makes his feature-directing debut with the fresh, laugh-out-loud funny Gigante.
Played by Horacio Camandulle, Jara is a heavy-metal-loving security guard who works the night shift in a supermarket on the outskirts of Montevideo. Jara is a subdued soul with a taste for teenage pastimes, despite his thirty-six years. He leads a dull existence, whiling away the time at work by filling in crossword puzzles and listening to hard rock, and moonlighting weekend nights at heavy-metal clubs.
Life takes a big turn for Jara when he falls in love with Julia (Leonor Svarcas), a cleaning woman at the supermarket. The affair begins with him watching her on the closed-circuit security camera network, then following her outside work and getting caught up in several hilarious situations. This voyeuristic gentle giant becomes an unexpected guardian angel for Julia and those around her.
Meanwhile, tension increases at work as the supermarket lays off staff. Confronted by reality, Jara is finally moved to action and must decide if he wants to live this romance or remain a spectator.
Biniez effectively uses cameras as a voyeuristic thread throughout the film. This unexpected romantic comedy combines sublime moments of tenderness and vulnerability with evocative reflections on dull jobs. Offbeat and original, Gigante reflects on the possibility of change and hope despite modern-day tedium."
Quoting Diana Sanchez
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