Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus and 2012
Dir. Sebastián Silva, 2013
Once upon a time in Santiago de Chile, a local filmmaker decided to make a drug movie with his roommate, Michael Cera. The results were…mixed.
Crystal Fairy is a thoroughly strange movie about four brothers and their ne’er-do-well control freak of a friend (Jamie, played by Cera), who unwittingly invites a gratingly quirky hippie chick (the titular Crystal Fairy, played by Gaby Hoffman) on their road trip to partake of a psychedelic cactus on the shores of the Atacama. The gang takes a liking to Crystal Fairy while Jaime obsesses over the cactus.
After watching the film, I didn’t dislike it, but I had no interest in seeing it again. Sebastian Silva is obviously a talented director; he has a good eye, and his washed-out version of Chile really gives the impression of being on the far side of the Earth. But I wish he had enough confidence as a screenwriter to simply let things be. His need to give the film a satisfying conclusion may or may not ruin the whole thing. It’s up to you to find out.
C+
Sam Aronow 