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Review

John Leguizamo expands on the dramatic facility he evidenced in Crónicas in this vibrant, richly detailed tale. He plays Antonio, a young man who comes from a small Mexican town where the line between waking and dreaming is not sharply drawn, fueling the fantasies that make the mundane bearable. He suffers a deep loss early in life; when he’s old enough, he travels to Los Angeles with his guitar and a belief that liberation can be found in the pursuit of dreams. He meets Mirabella (Peña), an older woman who feels defeated by life, who has discarded the dreams of her youth, but who still manages to support the dreams of others. She finds in Antonio someone who encourages her to break the bonds of her limited existence. As usual, Peña delivers her role with her customary delicate grace and embracing warmth. Antonio meets many others on his road to self-realization; some strengthen his resolve, and some provide distraction from the path dictated by his heart and soul. A band competition provides the chance for the proverbial big break, and Antonio must choose between the music he loves and going with the latest trend. A familiar story and some formulaic plotting are more than compensated for by an infectious energy and a heartfelt sense of revitalizing renewal. Sueño is a delectable exercise in magical realism, replete with arresting saturated color and kinetic motion.

 -- Ann Yarabinee