Few things can sour a weekend getaway more than reckless, dysfunctional behavior. All seems perfectly fine with the world in Duvan Duque’s All Inclusive, with a family of three headed to an exclusive resort for some much-needed time together. This short film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Music blares inside the car of Fernando (Leopoldo Serrano) as his young son Fer (Maximiliano Rojas) sings along and his wife Natalia (Alejandra Herrera) smiles broadly in the passenger seat. It’s the ideal, cheerful little vacation they’ve all been looking forward to as they inch closer to a hotel in Bogota, Colombia. The pleasantries immediately commence, but as Fernando slips away into conversations with his associates, it becomes clear that something could go horrifically sideways. There’s a criminal element to his business dealings, and Natalia makes it known how their son could get caught in the crossfire. Such levels of carelessness aren’t anything new to the family, as Fer is often left behind closed doors, listening to his parents viciously bicker. Things come to a head as the couple’s arguments heat up and Fernando is forced to make a decision in regards to their future together.
Amidst the bustling city and vibrant resort setting, the story of All Inclusive just wouldn’t work without an authentic lead. And while both Serrano and Herrera manage to shine, it’s Rojas who makes the strongest case for himself as a talent to watch. Though his dialogue is limited, his best work is when he is silently observing the chaos around him. His eyes tell his story, and it’s not a pleasant one for someone at his tender age to go through. In a way, it feels as if everything surrounding Fer is both intentionally and unintentionally shutting him out. Rojas maintains the quality of his performance throughout, even during a rather ambiguous and admittedly predictable finale that seems a little too content with playing it safe. On the plus side, it’s a beautifully composed final sequence, where director of photography Konstantinos Koukoulios really ties the film’s visuals together with vibrant colors.
Duvan Duque has an empathetic and complex family film on his hands that constantly threatens to tear loved ones apart – yet finds solace in hope and reconciliation when the odds seem insurmountable.