The Delights

High school students find their way in life at Las Delicias agrotechnical boarding school in the Argentine countryside. This striking coming-of-age film takes place against an inviting backdrop of fields of crops, greenhouses full of tomato plants, and the somewhat dilapidated school buildings, where dogs and chickens roam. The camera records everyday life in classic, muted colors without comment. The adventures of the young protagonists speak for themselves: the mystery of the missing telephone, the fortunes of a found baby pigeon, and the outcome of a contest to drag a wheelbarrow through the mud. Patient teachers and other motherly staff members lend an ear during the daily struggles with friendships, quarrels, or physical ailments. Look after each other, make tea, do your homework, and everything will be fine. The only reminder of home comes with the arrival of a new batch of students, getting their last big hug from their parents and wiping a tear away. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)