• Latest
  • Trending
Simon Of The Mountain Review

Simon Of The Mountain Review: A Revelatory Debut Feature

Without a Dawn Review

Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

The Correspondent Review

The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

Bogieville Review

Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

Slow Horses

Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

11 hours ago
A Minecraft Movie

SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

11 hours ago
Ollie Madden

Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

11 hours ago
Mariska Hargitay

Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

11 hours ago
Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

Coastal Review

Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

The Dark Money Game

The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

Call of the Void Review

Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

Dovey's Promise Review

Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Slow Horses

    Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

    A Minecraft Movie

    SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

    Ollie Madden

    Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

    Mariska Hargitay

    Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

    frankenstein 2025

    Fans Push for Big-Screen Run After Netflix Drops Frankenstein Teaser

    Blake Lively Justin Baldoni

    Judge Faces New Twist as Lively Seeks to Trim Lawsuit Against Baldoni

    Jacob Elordi

    Elordi’s POW Drama Leads to Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights

    Paramount

    Paramount Sets July 2 Shareholder Meeting as Skydance Vote Looms

    Maggie Lawson

    Psych Alum Maggie Lawson to Lead CBS’s Boston Blue

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Correspondent Review

    The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

    Bogieville Review

    Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

    Coastal Review

    Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

    The Dark Money Game

    The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

    Call of the Void Review

    Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

    Dovey's Promise Review

    Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

    The Balcony Movie Review

    The Balcony Movie Review: A Philosophical Perch on Human Transience

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review: Before Trans Visibility Had a Name

    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

  • Game Reviews
    Without a Dawn Review

    Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review: A Painter’s Tale in Bohemia

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Slow Horses

    Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

    A Minecraft Movie

    SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

    Ollie Madden

    Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

    Mariska Hargitay

    Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

    frankenstein 2025

    Fans Push for Big-Screen Run After Netflix Drops Frankenstein Teaser

    Blake Lively Justin Baldoni

    Judge Faces New Twist as Lively Seeks to Trim Lawsuit Against Baldoni

    Jacob Elordi

    Elordi’s POW Drama Leads to Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights

    Paramount

    Paramount Sets July 2 Shareholder Meeting as Skydance Vote Looms

    Maggie Lawson

    Psych Alum Maggie Lawson to Lead CBS’s Boston Blue

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Correspondent Review

    The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

    Bogieville Review

    Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

    Coastal Review

    Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

    The Dark Money Game

    The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

    Call of the Void Review

    Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

    Dovey's Promise Review

    Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

    The Balcony Movie Review

    The Balcony Movie Review: A Philosophical Perch on Human Transience

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review: Before Trans Visibility Had a Name

    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

  • Game Reviews
    Without a Dawn Review

    Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review: A Painter’s Tale in Bohemia

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Simon Of The Mountain Review

Wild Diamond Review: A Stirring Character Study of a Woman Seeking Purpose in a Changing World

The Damned Review: A Glimmer of Truth in Trying Times

Home Entertainment Movies

Simon Of The Mountain Review: A Revelatory Debut Feature

Exploring Identity and Community

Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi by Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi
1 year ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 7 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

Set in the beautiful yet remote landscapes of Argentina, Federico Luis’ intimate debut film, Simon of the Mountain, tells the compelling story of a young man searching for belonging. Released in 2024, the movie follows 21-year-old Simon as he flees his lonely home life and inserts himself into a group of mentally disabled youth living in a care facility.

Played beautifully by Lorenzo Ferro, Simon initially pretends to share their disabilities in order to be accepted. But as he spends more time with his new friends, experiencing life in their community, complicated questions arise about who Simon truly is beneath his guise.

While the film could have focused only on Simon’s deception and moral dilemma, director Luis skillfully weaves deeper themes of identity, communication, and finding one’s place in the world. He treats the cast, many of whom live with disabilities, with great respect, allowing their movingly natural performances to drive the narrative.

Both Simon and the audience are left questioning where exactly the lines are drawn and who gets to decide who belongs. In nurturing a thought-provoking story of self-discovery amongst challenging societal attitudes, Luis’ directorial debut subtly yet powerfully explores what it means to be understood for who you are.

Exploring Community in Simon of the Mountain

The film opens by introducing us to Simon, a young man living a solitary existence in rural Argentina, helping his mother’s boyfriend with odd jobs. It’s clear that Simon feels like an outsider in his own home. But all that is about to change when he discovers a group home for mentally disabled youth nearby. Pretending to share in their disabilities, Simon immerses himself in this new community.

Immediately, he connects with Pehuen, a cheerful guy who shows Simon the ropes. Pehuen recognizes something kindred in Simon, beyond any labels. Through them and others like the gently romantic Colo, Simon starts to find the acceptance and purpose that have eluded him. We see him blossom in this environment, finally among peers, joining hikes and swimming trips. It seems Simon has found where he truly belongs.

But troubles arise when Simon’s deception is exposed, threatening to unravel the bonds he’s formed. A disciplinary incident reveals that he lacks an official disability certificate. Further complications emerge as Simon’s feelings for Colo deepen into territory unaccepted by others. As he comes to rely more on his new friends, Simon realizes that keeping up the charade risks hurting those closest to him.

Back home, Simon clashes with his overbearing mother, who struggles to understand the changes in her son. She dismisses his new identity, seeing only the problems he causes. But for Simon, the time spent with his community in the mountains was transformative. He now knows who he wants to be.

In the end, Simon must decide how to reconcile the person he’s become with the life dictating his return home. No matter what label others put on him, he knows where he truly belongs—among those who see beyond surfaces to the person within. Most of all, he belongs to people who offer the unconditional acceptance and love that every human heart seeks.

The Power of Natural Performances

Federico Luis takes a risk in Simon of the Mountain that pays off hugely. For his debut feature, he casts real mentally disabled young people in central roles alongside a single professional actor, Lorenzo Ferro. But this is no mere stunt; Luis demonstrates a masterful directorial hand that brings authentic, nuanced performances out of this cast.

Ferro commands the screen as Simon, imbuing a character full of contradictions with heartbreaking empathy. We feel Simon’s inner turmoil as he straddles the line between truth and fiction. Ferro delves into Simon’s psyche with subtlety, conveying vulnerability beneath frustration and rage. Throughout, he holds our interest as we question Simon’s intentions and what’s revealed about his past.

But perhaps most impressive are the first-time actors around Ferro. Using a straightforward, atmospheric style, Luis crafts an environment where these individuals can shine in their own right. Pehuen Pedre and Kiara Supini portray Simon’s new friends with delicate complexity far beyond their experience. They ensure their characters are rounded beings, not props. Through their warmth and spirit, Luis shows that ability and disability have little bearing on our shared humanity.

Clearly, Luis has earned these actors’ trust. They feel liberated to bring layered, emotionally honest performances, even in challenging scenes. Whether bonding during outdoor trips or tentatively exploring new feelings, their exchanges feel genuine and filled with life. Luis lets the actors’ personalities enhance their parts organically instead of conforming to stereotypes.

The results profoundly move and reveal. By valuing these actors as artistic collaborators, Luis brings a marginalized community to the fore through impactful, dignified storytelling. His direction preserves each person’s integrity while guiding their talents towards a cohesive whole. The naturalism they achieve is cinematic art at its finest—affecting portraits that last with audiences long after the final frame. In Simon of the Mountain, Federico Luis discovers the power of authentic human connections on both sides of the camera.

Finding Your Place

Federico Luis imbues Simon of the Mountain with profound themes woven into its intimate story. Identity, communication, acceptance—Simon grapples with these constantly as he navigates between two worlds.

On the mountain, he’s among those who understand his need to belong. With them, his “disability” brings purpose. But views change below, where his mother rejects this identity. Two Simons emerge—one liberated, the other trapped by a life he never chose.

Striking is how disabilities fade into the backgrounds of Luis’ richly drawn characters. Though facing obstacles, the youth dazzle with spirit and desires beyond stereotypes. Only by embracing each other are we enriched. Luis ensures none are defined by a single trait.

Communication also poses challenges. But through playful, ingenious ways like adapted hearing aids, Luis shows how understanding strengthens bonds. Even amid confusion, empathy and compassion prevail.

Acceptance proves the most elusive theme. Rewarded by friendship on the mountain, Simon encounters judgment at home, masking deeper wounds. Luis suggests how embracing our truths, not predetermined roles, can heal broken relationships.

Throughout, the director maintains poise when navigating sensitive issues. Reality and humanity shine through over didacticism. Ultimately, he presents life’s complexity beautifully: living fully means defining ourselves, yet no journey happens alone. With patience and good faith, people of all kinds can walk together towards places where we feel at home within our own skin. Luis’ stirring debut brings us closer to that ideal.

Finding Your Place

Federico Luis imbues Simon of the Mountain with profound themes woven into its intimate story. Identity, communication, acceptance—Simon grapples with these constantly as he navigates between two worlds.

On the mountain, he’s among those who understand his need to belong. With them, his ‘disability’ brings purpose. But views change below, where his mother rejects this identity. Two Simons emerge—one liberated, the other trapped by a life he never chose.

Striking is how disabilities fade into the backgrounds of Luis’ richly drawn characters. Though facing obstacles, the youth dazzle with spirit and desires beyond stereotypes. Only by embracing each other are we enriched. Luis ensures none are defined by a single trait.

Communication also poses challenges. But through playful, ingenious ways like adapted hearing aids, Luis shows how understanding strengthens bonds. Even amid confusion, empathy and compassion prevail.

Acceptance proves the most elusive theme. Rewarded by friendship on the mountain, Simon encounters judgment at home, masking deeper wounds. Luis suggests how embracing our truths, not predetermined roles, can heal broken relationships.

Throughout, the director maintains poise when navigating sensitive issues. Reality and humanity shine through over didacticism. Ultimately, he presents life’s complexity beautifully: living fully means defining ourselves, yet no journey happens alone. With patience and good faith, people of all kinds can walk together towards places where we feel at home within our own skin. Luis’ stirring debut brings us closer to that ideal.

Capturing Connection

Federico Luis brings his intimate story to life through subtly impactful cinematic choices. While the handheld camerawork feels natural, it conveys Simon’s journey with nuance. We’re not distant observers, but close companions, seeing each moment through his eyes.

Clever, too, is how a hearing aid gifted to Simon becomes so much more. When wearing it, muffled sounds signal his turbulent inner state. But it also strengthens ties with those who understand its purpose. In opening his mind to their world, he starts to find belonging.

Sound plays many roles, too. Filtered through technology, we experience each relationship as Simon does. The barrier reminds us that true seeing requires effort, yet hearing opens doors. Cracks and static hint at an outsider peering in, gradually learning the language of this community.

Subtlety like this grants empathy. We grasp Simon and his friends as complex people, not stereotypes, seeing past surface traits. Their abilities shine through ordinary moments of play that could be any child’s. By prioritizing connection over sensationalism, Luis invites us deep within this story, where common ground outweighs all differences. His artistic mastery brings the unheard to light.

Stirring Depths

Certain scenes in Simon of the Mountain resonate long after viewing. On the mountain, a fierce gale arises, isolating the group amid turbulence. Here, self and community are tested equally.

Struggling against the elements, they each lean on others. Disabilities matter little; all feel fallible against nature’s forces. Bonds strengthen through cooperation, where alone they may fail. For Simon, this trial taps the resilience of the unknown. By the story’s end, have storms within matched this one without?

Tension climaxes when Agustín’s scorn pushes Simon over the edge. His actions suggest fractured stability, yet trauma is hinting at why. By filming the act, Agustín threatens to define Simon solely by this moment of unrest. One wonders: what ghosts from Simon’s past stirred this violence dormant till now?

Answers remain blurred, as with the director’s artistic intent. In the final assessment, must Simon justify himself through another’s eyes? Or could acceptance come by truly seeing and being seen for who we are beneath labels? The openness of it all leaves space for individual interpretation and for hope that honesty, not perfection, should be the measure of any man.

Some find in shadows what others see in light. In life’s ambiguities, perhaps lies living fully as complex beings, not stereotypes. By honoring complexity even where clarity fades, Luis grants his characters and all who view them space for deeper understanding—of themselves and each other.

Winds of Change

Federico Luis’ debut film, Simon of the Mountain, took audiences on a thought-provoking journey. At its core lay timely questions around identity and societal acceptance.

Through compelling performances, Luis brought life to characters negotiating these issues in realistic, relatable ways. Whether facing inner storms or outer gales, each character felt the winds of change in their own way. Simon found refuge and meaning among those our world often marginalizes, only to be cast back out. Yet in the opening dialogues, new connections formed that offered hope.

Subtly, Luis highlighted our shared humanity—flaws, hopes, and all. Disability, he suggested, adds perspective but does not define personhood. If labels restrict us, truth and understanding may set us freer. By the film’s end, while answers stayed fluid, its empathy and care for complexity left an impact.

Now the film’s winds disperse further afield, still stirring viewers long after. In sparking reflection on how we see and accept one another, Luis tapped themes universally resonant. However each audience member interprets its nuances, Simon of the Mountain challenges us to broaden our sights, listen with open hearts and minds, and embrace life’s richness in all its beautiful ambiguity. Its traces may drift long afterwards.

The Review

Simon Of The Mountain

8 Score

Director Federico Luis has crafted an intimate yet thought-provoking drama about identity, community, and societal acceptance. With natural performances and an empathetic lens, Luis brings nuanced humanity to characters often marginalized. While some story threads go lightly threaded, Simon of the Mountain succeeds in sparking meaningful reflection on how we see and support one another. It leaves its audience navigating life's deeper waters long after its wake.

PROS

  • Complex, nuanced characters
  • Natural, compelling performances
  • Thoughtful exploration of themes like identity and acceptance
  • Empathetic portrayal of individuals with disabilities
  • Trigger for meaningful reflection

CONS

  • Some story details remain lightly sketched.
  • Ambiguous elements may frustrate some viewers.
  • A subtle film may not appeal to all tastes.

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: 2024 Cannes Film FestivalAgustín ToscanoDramaFeaturedFederico LuisLuis FedericoSimon Of The MountainTachellaTomas Murphy
Previous Post

Wild Diamond Review: A Stirring Character Study of a Woman Seeking Purpose in a Changing World

Next Post

The Damned Review: A Glimmer of Truth in Trying Times

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • Mountainhead Review

    Mountainhead Review: Deepfakes and Deep Trouble

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Death Valley Review: A Witty Welsh Wander into Cosy Crime

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Better Sister Season 1 Review: Not Quite a Killer Thriller

    16 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MobLand Season 1 Review: Family Ties and Underworld Intrigues

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Dept. Q Review: Edinburgh’s Gloom and a Detective’s Fractured Soul

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mad Unicorn Review: Ambition and Its Echoes in the Global Stream

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Bullet Train Explosion Review
Movies

Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

1 day ago
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review
Reviews Games

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

3 days ago
Stick Season 1 Review
TV Shows

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

3 days ago
Destination X Review
Entertainment

Destination X Review: A Game of Veiled Realities

4 days ago
Earnhardt Review
Entertainment

Earnhardt Review: The Anatomy of a NASCAR Titan

4 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version