CineVegas Film Festival 2008

Cristobal (Gael Garcia Bernal) is a spoiled kid throwing an all-day barbeque for his friends in a gorgeous home owned by his at-large parents, who are clearly experiencing legal/money troubles. The house's staff hasn't been paid in quite some time, and there's a palpable chill in the air when they're asked to do something trivial. Yet Cristobal is more interested in delaying his girlfriend's arrival so he can seal the deal with an Argentine beauty. As day turns to night, emotions flare and tensions build.

DÉFICIT is astutely directed and graced with engaging performances that are both sexy and unsettling. Bernal, one of Mexico's finest actors, tackles heavy issues by simply living them rather than pedantically preaching, thus making the story more engaging, complex, and provocative. Swooping Steadicam and queasy close-ups perfectly create the sensation of being at the party, while a near-silence in the closing scenes that echoes the emptiness exposed by the film in the protagonist's life, values and dreams.

DÉFICIT is not only an excellent commentary on troubles currently facing Latin America; it’s an honest, sincere film, showcasing a new facet of one of that region’s most inspiring young talents.