The Hole in the Fence, 2021.
Directed by Joaquin del Paso
Starring Valeria Lamm Williams, Yubah Ortega, Luciano Kurti, Eric Walker, Santiago Barajas, Enrique Lascurain, Jacek Poniedzialek, Raul Vasconcelos
SYNOPSIS:
The schisms of modern Mexican society are laid bare as privileged students at an exclusive summer camp discover an opening that has profoundly sinister ramifications.
The Hole in the Fence, a profoundly disturbing Mexican-Polish production, takes an unwavering view at the positions of power and privilege, and how abusive boys are turned into abusive men. That is the bleak reality that Joaquin del Paso’s second feature addresses, and as such, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. At times shocking and abrasive, the film has plenty of philosophical comment to make about upbringing and influence. As such, it sticks in the memory long after watching.
Set at an exclusive summer camp for well-off adolescent boys, the elite place is supposed to inform and instruct the boys on how best to do God’s good work. The teachers soon become sinister in their intentions, and the whole trip takes on a cult-like path into meeting expectations of toxic masculinity.
Startling examples of racism and homophobia are dealt out by the majority of the boys, who learn to act en-masse. The tutors and staff guiding them on this grim journey into adult life are a sincerely creepy bunch. Constantly intoning the will of God – given extra power by their go-to priest – the dubious bunch attempt to fashion the youngsters into what they think is the best way to behave.
This is extreme religion being indoctrinated to the youth. As the top ranks of Mexican society are only too happy to send their boys off to this warped summer school, we can take it that the film’s makers do not have the most positive view of religious work in education. Indeed, if the school teachers are anything to go by, following this form of church doesn’t seem to do anybody too many favours.
When a hole in the fence that separates the camp from the outside world – and the indigenous people that reside in it – is discovered, a hysterical energy comes into play and things get even more tense. Anything different from the conservative wealthy society that the boys were born into is something to resist and fight against.
The one exception in this case is a boy benefitting from a scholarship scheme who is not of Hispanic background. Initially targeted because of his race, and later friendship with an unconventional boy who has been labelled as gay by his peers, the boy learns to fit into the crowd in order to survive. This sad realisation is something that the film does very well, bringing home uncomfortable truths and dilemmas that every society must deal with at some point.
Taking on such questions as these is never easy, and there are many who will no doubt find The Hole in the Fence a difficult watch. I personally found it an insightful take on ‘Lord of the Flies‘ territory, with enough points to highlight about the role of positions of power in shaping the outlooks of following generations.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert W. Monk
