Bad Hair

Junior is nine years old, growing up on a housing project in Venezuela. Searching for an identity without a father-figure, he feels marginalized by his mother Marta’s preoccupation with his baby brother. For the school photo Junior decides to straighten his stubbornly curly hair and dress as a singer. Overwhelmed with searching for a job to provide for her family, Marta finds it increasingly difficult to tolerate her son’s personality and his fixation withhis appearance. She tries to induce him into macho ways, convinced Junior’s obsessions are signs of his sexual ambiguity.Winner of the Golden Shell (Best Film) at San Sebastián Film Festival, Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) is a nuanced, wonderfully spirited and touching coming-of-age story from writer-director Mariana Rondón, featuring exceptional lead performances by Samuel Lange and Samantha Castillo.