Soldier

"Why do you want to join the army?" the medical officer asks during the intake interview. "Because I like it and I need a job. And to make my mother happy," the young recruit replies. Juan José Gonzales goes on to become a drummer in the military band Tambor de Tacuarí. Alongside combat training, he receives lessons in drumming the right reveilles and marching perfectly in step with the rest of the band. At a respectful distance but full of compassion, director Manuel Abramovich follows the journey of this young recruit in the Argentine army. The camera often focuses exclusively on the boy’s face, with the audio track giving us extra clues. The young man’s expressions—in spite of his attempts to look tough—reflect his innocence, determination and uncertainty. Other scenes show the beauty of endless marching and boredom in the barracks. The film shows how a young soldier in peacetime is molded into a motivated drummer, able to evoke "vistas from thousands of battles" with his instrument.