You may not have heard of Austin’s Fantastic Fest, but it’s actually a big deal. As the largest genre film festival in the U.S. it’s had the honor of screening mega-hits such as There Will Be Blood and Apocalypto over its short nine years in the game. While “fantastic” may conjure up images of mythical beasts and winged creatures, in truth the festival showcases everything from horror, to action, to “just plain fantastic movies,” with a few winged creatures thrown in mix for good measure. This year’s edition of the festival kicks off on September 18 and to keep you in the know we will be sharing some of the more eye-catching Latin American films on the 2014 roster. First up: Uruguayan stoners.
Yes, if there’s one thing that unites nations from the farthest reaches of the globe, it’s stoners. While each country or region may have their own unique take on this universal phenomenon, it all comes down to good vibes and buena yerba. Perhaps as the first country in the world to fully legalize good ole Mary Jane, it’s appropriate that Uruguay’s representative at this year’s Fantastic Fest, High Five (Relocos y repasados), has been touted as a “21st century Cheech and Chong.” While the filmmakers can take this up with Harold and Kumar when they’re stateside for the U.S. premiere, in truth the trailer brings to mind late-90s teen comedies more than the iconic comedy duo’s timeless stoner epics.
Still, there seems to be no shortage of wild, drug-fueled adventures, with the requisite firearms, gang beat-downs, religious epiphanies, and plenty of cinematic style to boot. We’ve written previously about Uruguay’s very peculiar sense of humor, but it seems Relocos y repasados is a lot more in the classic American style (though running from the law probably isn’t a top concern for Uruguayan stoners these days.)
Perhaps what 21st century United States really needs is a Cheech and Chong Go To Washington so we can catch up with Uruguay’s progressive policy once and for all. In the meantime, we can watch Relocos y repasados for what promises to be a deeply goofy take on recreational drug use in the one country where it’s not really a big thing.