Cesar’s Grill (Dario Aguirre, 2013)

Reviewed by Dennis Hansson. Viewed at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Cesar is a man in his mid 50’s and lives in Ecuador. He makes his living by running his own grill, where he spends basically every day of the year, working. The only times he isn’t present in his grill is if he attends funerals or if it is a national holiday or some other special event. This documentary follows Dario Aguirre, the writer and director of the film, as he returns to Ecuador from his new home in Germany, to help his father Cesar getting his business back on track, which he hasn’t managed properly and that is facing bankruptcy. The bad managing of the grill also comes out of the financial crisis that occured in the country in 1999, and some knowledge about the crisis could be useful, as it changed the nations economy entirely and led to the emigration of millions of people in Ecuador.

Dario and his father Cesar has a very complicated relationship with each other. They have never seemed to quite get along and the mother always worked as the mediator between them. Cesar is a very outgoing and social person who is extremely passionate about his grill and has lived in Ecuador for his entire life, while Dario is a vegetarian who moved to Germany in his 20’s to study art. Obviously, they do not share many interests and when Dario comes to his fathers aid, their indifferences seems to be to many to properly turn the business around the be profitable again. This complicated relationship is the foundation of the film, as we follow both persons struggle to communicate with each other. The film also gets in touch with other themes, such as love and tragedy, which makes it easy for people to relate to, and thereby appreciate, the movie.

What makes this documentary a really good documentary is it simplicity. It explores a very basic theme, a sons relationship with his father, which most people can relate to. It also uses music in a very beautiful way, as playing the guitar is one of the few things Dario and Cesar has in common, which helps to enhance the feelings that Dario is trying to show us on the screen about his search of a connection and understanding to his father.

I really enjoyed watching this documentary, a bit of a surprise since I normally wouldn’t attend a screening about a man running a small grill in Ecuador, but I am really glad that I went there to see it, and if you ever get the chance to see it yourselves and have the time for it, see it. I give Cesar’s Grill 7 out of 10. Good work Dario!