From Afar

Armando is a 50-year-old man living in Caracas who mostly buys companionship from younger men rather than pursuing adult relationships. He offers small payments in exchange for conversations, company, sometimes companionship that crosses into touchy territory. One day he crosses paths with Elder, a 17-year-old who leads a criminal gang and rules his own rough neighborhood with a quiet confidence. Elder is wary of adults but curious about Armando's wealth and solitude. Their encounter sparks a fragile, uneasy bond that unsettles each man, drawing them into a web of risk, coercion, and desire. As Caracas hums around them, the lines between caretaker and client blur, testing both men's notions of autonomy and control and consequences.

Directed by Lorenzo Vigas with a screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga, From Afar is an original drama that premiered at festivals before reaching general release. The story unfolds in Caracas and centers on Armando and Elder. Its visuals offer restrained realism.

Beyond awards, the film sparked conversations about power, aging, and the social gap in urban Venezuela. Its quiet, unflinching tone and the uneasy bond between Armando and Elder linger in viewers' minds, becoming touchpoints in discussions of masculinity and vulnerability in contemporary cinema that extend to other Latin American films.

Critics widely welcomed the film for its restrained storytelling and strong performances. It examines loneliness, desire, and control without melodrama, inviting audiences to consider how class, age, and power shape human connections. The result is a meditative drama that sticks with you long after the credits, lingering in viewers' minds.

There's no record of major awards in the data provided, but the film drew attention for its performances and directorial choices. Alfredo Castro's restrained portrayal of Armando and Luis Silva's portrayal of Elder earned favorable notices at international festivals, suggesting potential recognition in other years.