Welcome to Jara’s weird world. He’s the 35-year-old, overweight metal-head in the off- center Uruguayan export “Gigante.”
He works as a security guard at a supermarket in a Montevideo suburb, monitoring what’s picked up by the store’s security cameras.
He works nights, so the only people he sees on the screen are fellow employees. One is Julia, a clumsy floor-washer who’s 10 years younger than he.
For Jara, it’s love at first sight, although Julia doesn’t know he exists. First he follows her every move on camera, then takes to spying on her outside work.
There are two ways that director-writer Adrian Biniez could have taken the film. He might have veered off into Travis Bickle territory or he might have gone for a deadpan comedy.
He chose the latter, which was for the best.
Jara (Horacio Camandule) follows Julia (Leonor Svarcas) into a movie house, sitting a few rows behind her. When a cabby makes an off-color remark to Julia, Jara gives him a sock in the jaw.
He follows his love on a date, afterward knocking out three teens who accosted Julia’s suitor. He even steals her personnel file.
But you never fear for Julia. You know that Jara is big and dumb, but he’s also a sweetheart.
Camandule gives a strong performance as the lovesick guard, but Svarcas gets little chance to show her skills.
There’s minimal dialogue and camera movement — but lots of charm.