El Huaso Trailer (2012)

Gustavo Proto moved his family from Chile to Toronto to provide them with a better life. His father committed suicide when Gustavo was just 16. Now 58, he ponders his life and the possibility of ending it himself before he becomes a burden to those he loves. Before he makes this final decision, he wants to live out his childhood dream of returning to Chile and becoming a huaso, a Chilean cowboy. Carlo Guillermo Proto moves brilliantly between the complex roles of director and son, dissolving unspoken barriers to reveal an emotional and heart-wrenching portrait of a family torn between respecting Gustavo’s choices and confronting him with the burden he places on those left behind. As the film travels between continents, tensions rise. Carlo allows himself to become a vulnerable character, imbuing the film with a rare and compelling honesty about familial responsibility and personal freedom.