Junior is nine years old and has frizzy hair, or, as he thinks, stupid hair. For the yearbook photo at school he wants to straighten his hair to look like his favourite pop star. With this wish, he antagonises his mother, a young, unemployed widow. The more urgent Junior’s desire to look good and make his mother love him becomes, the more she rejects him. Until finally he makes a painful decision….

This equally tough and heart-warming drama by director Mariana Rondón paints a very realistic picture of the hard everyday life in Caracas. It shows in a completely non-judgemental way, but with impressive emotional expressiveness, what the daily struggle for survival does to a person. And how difficult it is for those who are different; who, like Junior, want to hold on to their dreams despite everything. Pelo Malois thus both a documentary-like portrait of mother and son in chaotic Caracas and a universal plea for tolerance.

Direction: Mariana Rondón
Producer: Marite Ugas und Gunter Hanfgarn
Production: Sudaca Films
Co-production: HANFGARN & UFER

Junior: Samuel Lange Zambrano
Marta: Samantha Castillo
El Jefe: Beto Benites
Carmen (La Abuela): Nelly Ramos
La Niña: María Emilia Sulbarán

Golden shell, San Sebastián Filmfestival (Spanien) 2013
SIGNIS Award, San Sebastián Filmfestival (Spanien) 2013
Sebastiane Award, San Sebastián Filmfestival (Spanien) 2013
Ástor de Oro, Best direction, Festival Mar del Plata (Argentinien) 2013
Ástor de Oro, Best Script, Festival Mar del Plata (Argentinien) 2013
Special prize of the jury, Internationales Filmfestival Thessaloniki (Griechenland) 2014
FIPRESCI Kritikerpreis, Internationales Filmfestival Thessaloniki (Griechenland) 2014
Holden-Preis for Best Script, Torino Filmfestival (Italien) 2013
Best leading actress, Torino Filmfestival (Italien) 2013
Premio del Público La Stampa, Torino Filmfestival (Italien) 2013
Best leading actress, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Montréal (Kanada) 2014
Best Caribbean Film, Festival de Cine Internacional de Puerto Rico 2014
Grand Jury Prize, Rencontres cinematographiques, Cannes (Frankreich) 2013
Best direction, Festival de Viña del Mar (Chile) 2014
Special mention of the jury, Festival de la Habana (Kuba) 2013
Premio Signis, Festival de Santo Domingo (Dominikanische Republik) 2014
Best leading actress, festival Cine Mérida (Venezuela) 2014
Best Supporting Actor, festival Cine Mérida (Venezuela) 2014
Special prize of the jury, festival Cine Mérida (Venezuela) 2014
Press Award, festival Cine Mérida (Venezuela) 2014
Freedom Award, OUTFEST Los Angeles (USA) 2014
Premio Incaa TV / Innovación artística, Unasur Cine Festival (Argentinien) 2014