Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 32 minutes, Director – Pablo Chea
Emi (Bosco Cárdenas) has no interest in his family’s interest in magic and special effects, however when technology causes them to disappear he must try his best to get them back.
Croma Kid feels very personally nostalgic for co-writer (alongside Israel Cárdenas) and director Pablo Chea. There’s a gentle charm to the stripped back way in which it displays creativity and the use of old school visual effects. Emi’s (Bosco Cárdenas) family used to have a TV show revelling in the magic of green screen trickery and camerawork, years later they still love to use the technology, with the chance of a more successful show on the horizon. While some sequences, particularly around the halfway point, might feel a bit too long, and slightly strange (perhaps intentionally), they capture the style of a film which celebrates the joys of the theremin – “an acquired taste like all good music”.
Emi finds himself distanced from the technology, and to some extent his family and their fascination and joy surrounding it. However, when they go missing after an incident involving the technology he must try and find a way to bring them back to the real world. As this point comes in around halfway through the film a more dramatic tone begins to come into play. The film displays a more serious face as the light creative angle is swept aside in favour of the more family-based dramas.
The effect is also felt on the overall charm of the piece as the very different tone, slightly bringing in the feel of a different film. Croma Kid’s second half doesn’t feel as engaging due to its shift. While there’s still something good playing out, remaining watchable, it feels slower and lacking the push of personal nostalgia that the first half has. The delve into what may have happened to Emi’s family, or how to get them back, could have a twist on the angles of imagination, but they don’t feel present as drama is the biggest focus within the narrative. A shame, as it’s such a strong pull within the initial charm of the film.
Croma Kid starts off as a lightly charming view of creativity with a hint of personal nostalgia from director Pablo Chea. However the less engaging dramatic tonal shift of the second half removes these initial feelings.
Just A Little Bit Random 