"El Pollo," a 13-year-old child in reform school, witnesses and experiences the brutalization of the guards and the other inmates.

A beautiful, poetic movie regarding the tormented existence of young inmates in Argentinian's juvenile jails, more or less during dictatorship rule. The young "pollo" escapes from one male-directed prison only to be recaptured and sent to another one, led by women. In spite of the warden's ferocity and sadism, he manages to tie a relationship with the only female that seems to care for the kids, who is eventually discovered and punished. The film discloses the rueful sadic behaviour of adults, priests included, against the stray cats, and the magic of human relationships that mild in these desperate situations. Though it seems that from Argentina we only get movies about fascist and concentration-camp like prisons, of course this reflects the dramatic recent history. A praise for the little actors, especially the one playing "Lupini" is great.

Cast: Norma Aleandro, Federico Luppi, Jorge Mayor, Isabel Quinteros, Lidia Catalano, Sara Benitez, Miguel Dedovich, Pompeyo Audivert, Julio Suarez, Andres Tiengo, Julio Arrieta, Eduardo Saucedo.

Language: Spanish.