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Parents' Guide to

Amigo

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Downbeat war drama is intelligent but violent.

Movie R 2011 128 minutes
Amigo Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In a small baryo in the Philippines, circa 1900 (during the Philippine-American War), Rafael (Joel Torre) is a fair and beloved "head man" whose brother is the leader of a band of guerilla soldiers. Before long, the U.S. military arrives and occupies the village, and Rafael finds himself caught between trying to cooperate with Lt. Compton (Garret Dillahunt) and secretly helping his brother. A Spanish priest (Yul Vazquez) is also on hand to make things more complicated, while the bored Americans begin to dabble in drinking and flirting with local girls. Soon Rafael and the lieutenant begin to understand each other, but will their newfound empathy protect them from the horrors of war?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Legendary indie filmmaker John Sayles (Eight Men Out, The Secret of Roan Inish) delivers an uncommonly intelligent war-themed movie in AMIGO, and on a much smaller scale than usual. He burrows into individual characters, rather than battles; there are no clear "good guys" or "bad guys." Eventually the characters begin to discover one another's humanity, and war becomes an unfortunate side effect rather than the main point.

Movies this intelligent and aware of so many different points of view should be celebrated, so kudos to Sayles for pulling it off, time and again, in his multi-decade career. If there's a quibble here, it's that in focusing so heavily on the head, he sometimes forgets the heart. Amigo has been made with great care and sympathy, but it's a bit difficult to get enthusiastic over it, especially given the movie's downbeat tone and the difficult lessons it imparts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does its compare to what you might see in a blockbuster action movie? Which has more impact? Why?

  • Are there "good guys" and "bad guys" in this war? What does the movie have to say about war in general?

  • Why do you think the filmmaker chose such a downbeat ending? What does it mean?

Movie Details

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