Claudia and Maria, roam the streets of the city of Guatemala. Claudia works at a call center and is uninterested in the world around her. She lives with her activist grandfather, who tries to persuade her to join his cause. Maria unlike Claudia, is more spontaneous and lives with her mother in the outskirts of the city. The chaotic streets are filled with common stories of abuse, unforgiving police officers, and charming secret corners. Everything changes one night when they are attacked by three men. Although they manage to escape, Claudia is faced with the dilemma of choosing revenge or listening to her grandfather’s advice. – Official SXSW site.
What do you do when you and the person you love are headed on two different paths? As described in the movie synopsis above, this is Claudia and Maria’s stories. As a part of the free films provided by SXSW through Amazon Prime, Gunpowder Heart tells the story of two girls at a crossroads in their lives. While they love each other, their lives become disrupted by a very fateful night. After that, the two must make decisions that will change the courses of their lives. In a sense, they are at war.
Getting Into the Plot
Claudia and Maria were having a fine time at an amusement one night, when the two are sexually assaulted by three men. Rattled by this experience, Maria seeks revenge. So much to the point that she buys bullets for a gun and even attempts to shoot one of the men she believes was her attacker. Even after Claudia pleads with her and the two spend a blissful night together, Maria is off to learn how to shoot her gun. Her attention becomes focused on revenge. Nothing will stop her.
These two women should have just been living, finding careers, and loving each other. Instead, they live in an unsure time, in a rocky city. The environment and events around them force them to have to have to make huge decisions. Claudia wishes to run to the United States with Maria, in search for a better and easier life. But, since the two have grown up in this world, can they really go back to enjoying their lives?
Rating: 4/5
Gunpowder Heart is a bit of a coming of age story, even if it might not be set in an environment you’re used to. As mentioned before, they’re both at a crossroads in their lives, forced to make very serious decisions. The film explores love, friendship, family, rough upbringings, and sexual assault. If you have Amazon Prime, I would certainly recommend checking this indie film out. It’s a very real look into living in an unsafe neighborhood and trying to take back your sense of security after such a traumatizing and frightening incident.
Gunpowder Heart reminded me a bit of Wong Kar-wai’s 1997 film Happy Together. You wonder what’s better – them staying together? Or going separate ways?
Have you checked out Gunpowder Heart yet?
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