You're My Hero

What are these rites of passage everyone talks about?

The passage is that long and winding road, called Childhood. The rites are facing up to challenges, surviving school, discovering S.E.X and coming out the other side with an understanding of human frailty.

It is not exactly clear who takes the heroic role in You're My Hero. Ramon (Manuel Lozano) is a moveable kid. His father changes jobs every year, which means he never has time to make proper friends. He has a startled face, as if permanently terrified, which is a red rag to a bully.

By the time he reaches Seville in 1976, he has learned the rules - don't fight, don't snitch, don't cry - and when the bullies circle for their first strike, he takes the initiative and joins them. Their leader David (Felix Lopez) calls him Fanny and treats him like a pet and yet he is happy enough to be part of it, especially when sidetracked by Paloma (Carmen Navarro), the sister of one of the gang. Ramon's parents, particularly his mother, bear the brunt of this new, independent attitude.

The other possible hero is a young, handsome, bearded priest (Toni Canto) who teaches them about the evils of fascism. These illicit lessons open Ramon's ears to the inequalities and cruelty of Spain's historical legacy.

The film breaks no new ground and feels autobiographical in its testament of trust and betrayal. Anyone who has ever lived through those years of uncertainty and experimentation will empathise. It's a pity that Ramon looks so hurt all the time, as if expecting to be whipped. No wonder Paloma goes off him.