The Worst Film Ever

Sick Product of a Sick System

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

This is the second time that I have seen the movie Innocent Voices. The first time I saw it was in Costa Rica on a school service trip. This movie did a fantastic job of showing the viewers how intense and dangerous the civil war was in El Salvador. The children and really everyone was never able to feel 100% safe. The young main character, Chava, was deeply afraid of turning 12 because the soldiers were able to recruit children if they were 12 and older. They would show up at the schools or even the homes and just take the children, the parents had no say. It was very saddening to see the way things were and all the hardships Chava and his family went through. Chava saw two of his friends get shot in the head and was almost killed many times himself. All together I think that it was a really good movie that kept my attention and interest.

This is a wonderful moving Mexican movie and it's not a surprise considering that the American neighbor prefers lately to make war movies that glorify their own army and thus totally blind to the fate of the helpless population. At last here, the first evidence of war is dramatically illustrated: it's a meaningless butchery! The opening of the movie is the perfect proof of that: children captured by soldiers! I wait the argument explaining that yes, children are threats and that yes, soldiers must obey all orders! It's such silly and shameful reasons that build the road for war and that extinguish the best of our humanity! All along the movie, disasters and pain grow endlessly and it was really hard to witness all those tragedies!Beyond the war drama, the movie is also an incredible story about childhood: it's funny to see that children look the same all over the world and whatever they have or not a peaceful, comfortable environment. They just need love, friends, education and fun! It was an eye opener to discover that the village was highly striated with the privileged families (his girlfriend) that lives in plain houses and the poor ones that have only in small huts or cabins. But, in the end, at school, they were all equals as they wear the same uniform and between them, they don't make differences.Technically, if the rhythm is sometimes a bit slow, the director offers good visuals. And the cast is just amazing: Leonor is courageous loving single mother and all the kids are amazing.I recommend highly this movie for those who seek a truthful drama that is everything except a political propaganda! In a way, it follows the path of "empire of sun", that is to say a crazy world felt trough the eyes of an innocent child!

I have to say, this movie along with Romero [1989] are guerrilla supporting films, always making the Salvadoran Army look bad and imposing the atrocities of the guerrilla on the Army's side... truly ridiculous! I'm from El Salvador and I know how things happened, the Army didn't take young boys forcing them to fight or kidnapping women, THAT NEVER HAPPENED! It was the guerrillas that took young children forcing them to fight, this is a good example:http://tinyurl.com/3386coeAll of these movies based on the war in El Salvador are truly infuriating, they make the Guerrillas look like the heroes when in fact they were the animals behind the killings, kidnappings of rich people and poor people alike and the whole reason the war broke out! This movie along with Romero are pure and utter failure.Other than the leftist propaganda the story is more or less interesting, but still quite bland as it revolves around a kid and his idiotic favoritism of the guerrillas. Overall, the movie is a terrible and inaccurate depiction of the war in El Salvador.

This is without doubt a very well written and thought through screenplay and movie and extremely heartfelt, as the sleeve to the DVD says. Every war story is unique but when told through the eyes of a child, it is special in many ways.Okay, they use Mexicans not local Salvadoreans and the accents are not what they should be but Mexicans I assume apply the expertise and class to the film to make what it is.It is a very objective and thought provoking film. I have no idea who were the bads guys, the Army or the Guerrillas, and I don't think Chava or his family ever knew throughout the film, but the story was told wonderfully.Chava is a real star and the acting throughout is incredible. Did wonder whether if Penelope Cruz had played the Mother, the film might have been acclaimed for best picture for Oscar but this is a 2004/2005 movie and thats in the past.I read some of the earlier comments and Salvadoreans in particular have commented well. We may be doing Regan in an injustice with negative comments, misplaced comments on this site but this is one war film not to missed and I would let my 11 year old son watch it to see how an 11 year old boy copes with life under completely different circumstances.yes there is bloody violent moments but no more so than the average Kung Fu movie. There is no bad language or sex and I consider it safe for a mature child to have the chance to comprehend this movie.Well done to the researchers, director and producer in my opinion for this movie, quality indeed! In the Spanish language of course with English sub titles.