Olmo Movie Review

“Olmo” is a low-key coming-of-age movie that explores the life of a family living in the Southwest during the late 1970’s. This small group of people has money stress and medical issues. But deep down, they have a deep reservoir of family bonds.

In a really small town in New Mexico, there is a family living in a rented trailer. This is a place on the wrong side of the tracks, since the Southern Pacific goes barreling down the tracks daily. The youngest boy is Olmo (played by Aivan Uttapa). He is a 14-year-old kid with a head full of dreams, and a family that gives him nightmares.

His father is Nestor (played by Gustavo Sánchez Parra). He is very proud man, now shamed that he can no longer care for his family. He suffers from Multiple sclerosis. He is bed-ridden and needs a lot of constant care.

His wife Cecilia (played by Andrea Suárez Paz) has taken the responsibilities to work multiple shifts at the diner. That barely keeps the family afloat. That makes it super difficult for both parents.

They have another child, a daughter named Ana (played by Rosa Armendariz). She is older than Olmo, and she always makes sure he knows that. She is really into disco music and roller skating. She would rather spend her time in the rink than at home with the family.

Olmo has a really good friend named Miguel (played by Diego Olmedo). Miguel thinks of himself as one of the family. He just about is another part of this group, since he spends most free time over at Olmo’s house goofing around with him. But the best thing that around Olmo’s house is the neighbor across the street.

Right next door is a beautiful angel, as far as Olmo and Miguel are concerned. This is Nina (played by Melanie Frometa), and she is a very cute older teenager. Olmo has been smitten with Nina for years, and doesn’t know what to do about it. Then he finds out about the party.

Nina is going to a party tonight. She says that Olmo and Miguel are invited. But only if they can bring the stereo from Olmo’s house. They immediately go and test it out. But that thing doesn’t work. Olmo asks his dad, Nestor, to help with it. Olmo and Miguel get Nestor into his wheelchair and bring him into the front room.

Nestor used to be an electronics repairman, so he knows what to do. But he has lost his mobility, so it will be up to Olmo to fix each item. Everything that Nestor says is way above Olmo’s head. He doesn’t know his cathode from a diode from a transistor. But he finally gets it working again, thanks to Nestor’s knowledge. Plus the fact that Miguel remembers to plug in the stereo.

Everything is all setup now. It is going to be a great party. But then Olmo finds out that Ana has already made plans to be at the roller rink tonight for a huge event. Also, his mom Cecilia was asked to work a triple shift today at the diner. The family really needs the money.

His mom says that it will be up to Olmo to stay home and care for his dad tonight. Olmo objects and even Nestor is upset that Olmo is supposed to be in charge. Cecilia leaves for work, and Ana skates off. Now it is only Miguel and Olmo who are stuck with Nestor. The old man is a wicked frame of mind tonight.

Nestor picks on Olmo, and they get into a big fight. Nestor tells Olmo to get out of his house. Hey – that sounds like great news to Olmo and Miguel. They can try and get the old car working again and try to find where that party is located. As long as they bring that working stereo!

They find a gathering, and both Miguel and Olmo walk inside. They bring the stereo. But it seems a little odd inside there. They cannot find Nina or any of her other friends. It is mostly a bunch of middle-aged men. That is because this is wake for a man who had passed away. It is definitely not a teenage party.

Nina and her friends are close around the corner, and they meet up with Olmo and Miguel. They have the stereo, and pretty soon it is a disco spectacular. Migual and Olmo have practiced some dance moves. They become the life of the party. Nina has a little special surprise planned for Olmo.

But Miguel breaks the spell, with the news that they need to leave. He left the oven on by mistake. Jeez, and Nestor is there all alone. They ‘hustle’ on out of there and back Olmo’s place. The oven is turned off. But there is nobody around the house. Even Nestor is gone, and he is not able to move on his own.

They head over to the hospital. Cecilia came back from work and got Nestor over there for treatment. He said he was not feeling very well. Cecilia is furious at Olmo, and also at Ana. Both of them left Nestor all alone. That is not how this family should treat one another.

Nestor is in a precarious situation. Because of the Multiple sclerosis, it is difficult for him to have a bowel movement. This blockage could kill him. So there is only thing that would fill Olmo with joy right now. He wants to be able run around the hospital proudly proclaiming that his dad took a dump…

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“Olmo” is slice-of-life view of a transplanted family, making a new home in the New Mexican desert. This is a gentle story of growing up and living life with a shared family strength. The trouble and turmoil of life is overcome with a resilient bond of friendship and family support.

All the acting is realistic, to give a lived-in look to this fictional family. Playing Olmo is Aivan Uttapa, and he gives the impression of a confused kid who grows up too fast. Diego Olmedo (as Miguel) plays the ‘best friend’ role and he gets a lot a time to bond with Olmo. Gustavo Sánchez Parra (as papa Nestor) gets a difficult job. He plays his role with almost no mobility and movement. He is totally depending on his fellow actors (his family) to get him around.

There are shades of ‘Superbad’ in this movie, along with many other movies. Movies where the family faces a lot of struggles, but they all manage to come together in the end. The stakes are not too high, but they are meaningful for this family group.

“Olmo” is a nice little tale of the difficult times of growing up when it seems that life was pushing against you and your family.