At the beginning of the 1980s, a 12-year civil war broke out in El Salvador, a small country in the north of Central America. Government forces and guerrillas fought fiercely for years, the people were displaced and the country was dilapidated. Chava (Carlos Padilla), an 11-year-old boy, lives with his mother and sister, while his father leaves home and hasn't heard from him. Life at home is miserable, and death threatens them at any time. Chava, who was supposed to study in school, was forced to become a child soldier with a submachine gun. Since then, death has become the closest and most terrifying companion of this group of ignorant children. The film won three Mexican Academy Awards for Best make-up, Best Special effects and Best supporting Actress (Ofelia Medina) in 2005; Crystal Bear at Berlin International Film Festival in 2005; Best Foreign language Film by San Diego Film critics Association in 2005; and Best Picture at Seattle International Film Festival in 2005.
7.9
