Simon of the Mountain, what is the point of all this? Winner of the Cannes 2024 Critics’ Week Grand Prize premiered as part of this year’s QCinema – Screen International.
This is a film that raises more questions as to how we see the people with disability, and how we perceive even our own deficiencies. However, the film did not go beyond what it was trying to show, which is just really disappointing.
Simon of the Mountain (2024) is about a young man named Simon, on whom he befriended a group of disabled teenagers. Pehuen, his closest friend among them, is helping him acquire a disability permit so he can be with them and enjoy the same benefits they have. During his time with the group, he was able to change and make discoveries of his own.
For a film that shows how we see a certain stigma, this film went nowhere further. The intention was good, but the overall direction was all over the place. If the goal is to make us all uncomfortable, then this has worked well. But the question remains, where does the discomfort will bring us? I am not sure if I should root for Simon, or was the goal ever to root for him or hate him, or was it just to understand him? The film shows how Simon is searching for his own identity while hanging out with Pehuen and falling in love with Colo. Witnessing the whole journey felt as if they were taken advantage of by Simon. There were parts that his relationship with his Mother and her boyfriend is being shown as the main cause for Simon’s faults and flawed character. As much as I want to empathize with this, the film also shows it is not for their lack of trying, rather it was Simon’s choice to be aloof and disconnected to them.
I also find it really unfair that Pehuen has to participate and also be portrayed as the instigator to Simon’s wrongdoings. This part clearly contradicts what the film is trying to show, which leads to further confusion on what this film wants from us. It’s understandable that they are humans and should be treated as human beings that makes mistakes. But for Simon, who is a fully capable and well-built adult, I’ve expected that he has more of his character than just causing and creating misconceptions.
I am deeply disappointed, because the premise looks hopeful and encouraging. But what is the point of all this if the goal is to just point fingers and portray a flawed character for the sake of someone to portray? The film clearly questions what constitutes as normal and disabled, and if it should be something that needs to be identified. And that’s it. The group was really lovely to watch though. The way they are enjoying themselves, playing around and taking care of each other, without the derisive and the judgment looks. They are the highlight of this film, and It could’ve been better if the film just focused on them and the relationships they were building.
It was said that the Director Federico Luis has an experience as an assistant teacher at a drama school for the disabled, and this was what led to the creation of this film, along with meeting Pehuen Pedre (His actual name was used on this film). It is great to know that he has immersed himself with the people and his sincerity to tell their story was shown, but his protagonist ruins that sincerity. Lorenzo Ferro really tried it with his performance though. He portrayed Simon really well as fragile and sensitive.
The film wants us to see that disability should not be limited to what our senses perceive. Rather we should look within and see that brokenness is a work in progress, and we should face it instead of turning our heads the other way. Unfortunately, this film only told us the problem and did not explore how and why the problem really exists. For a film that won the Cannes Critics’ week award, I think I have expected much more from this.
Simon of the Mountain premiered in this year’s QCinema International Film Festival.
