The performances make "Raiz" watchable, but the plodding and seemingly directionless pace can get tedious for the impatient viewer. The film's plot also feels a bit derivative, with little new to express. It is clear that Valencia has tremendous talent, but it was not fully explored in this film.
Adolescence. The time when everything feels possible, and life feels the most free. But adolescence is also a transitional period in which the youth comes to the realization that not everything is possible, and the liberty is an illusion. These complex ideas are brilliantly presented in Samuel Kishi's directorial debut "Somos Mari Pepa."
