Kiltro

The first chilean martial arts movie.

The action film industry has always been far too distant from Latin America. Most of the films made in Latin America, no matter the country where they're made their stories all seem to be the same: romance, soup opera, sex & politics. In fact, if someone is asked if he has ever watched a film from Latin America the answer overseas will be a big no. The problem, if I may call it a problem, is that Latin America is always focused on filming stories that concern their people, their culture. So, in that scope it is very hard to film something to appeal foreign cultures. Nevertheless that didn't seem to be a limit for Chilean film maker Ernesto Díaz Espinoza. Instead of thinking about limitations he chose to pay tribute to his favorite films: Those from the exploitation genre. Did he succeed? perhaps...
 

Kiltro is a the first Chilean martial arts film ever, the first of its kind. Since the budget was so limited I can look past the bargain basement set pieces straight out of the 40s, but (unfortunately) what I can't look past is a jumbled, incoherent story full of plot holes; stone-faced actors; terrible pacing; and god awful CG blood. They would've been better off pulling a Tony Jaa and breaking everyone's limbs and neck. It would've looked better, saved money, and had a greater effect.

Zamir, the good guy.

Another gripe I have is with the whole love story. While the director seems to think it is cute and emotional, we're somehow lead to think its rather scary instead. Zamir (played by martial arts expert Marko Zaror) is nothing but an obsessed stalker. The opening of the movie has Zamir skulking in the shadows at a club watching a girl (Kim) dancing with some guy. When the guy gets a little frisky Zamir goes into rage mode and attacks. We find out later on that this guy that Zamir attacked is really Kim's boyfriend (WTF?) We also find out through the story and flashbacks that Zamir had been stalking Kim for 2 years and violently attacked any guy who tried to get close to her. I don't know about you guys, but to me that isn't a good way to set up a quirky love comedy. Now, is that a problem? Definitely! as this weird love story is what drives the whole film from start to end.

But I can't be all negative. Marko Zaror is an impressive individual. He is so ripped he makes some of the Spartans in 300 look scrawny, and for a man his size he has some incredible moves. I just wish he had a better director behind him. Espinoza's ham-fisted attempts at capturing the action was embarrassing. One reason why Tony Jaa is getting so popular, even though he shares the same stoic demeanor as Zaror, is because his director knows how to capture all of his moves and make them look gorgeous. Can he act as a lead role? I don't think so, he's definitely good at fighting but he's got no business acting. However, suddenly I'm reminded that Chuck Norris, Silvester Stallone, Arnold Scharwzenegger all became action heroes with the same amount of talent as this Chilean martial arts talent.

The princess our hero needs to rescue.

the awful Star Wars training moment.

Moreover, the girl Zamir is trying to rescue from non existant stalkers (but him of course) does not seem to be interested in him at all up until the very end of the story. Later, as the poor story develops, Zamir is faced with an old powerful enemy that wants to have his vendetta over Kim's father. Somehow, that becomes a turning point in the film and Zamir incapable of facing this mortal enemy as he is not ready yet, has to go on the clichéd journey of the hero that becomes a master and bla bla bla. If you're thinking "well, that is not so bad, there are plenty of films with the same idea" and while you may be right up to a certain extent all I can say is that in Kiltro, this is another monumental fail. 

Zamir leaves town to find a secret master from the Kiltro order. Once he finds him, you can't avoid LOL because this master is a poor midget fake replica of Yoda!!! and he's named "Nic Nac" (read as Neek-Nuk) just like the cookies!!! Anyways, he's too old to face his mortal enemy and too old to train Zamir so he tells him to go to the dessert and find José Soto to complete his training Jesus Christ man!!! stop hurting our eyes with that nonsense!! 

I'm the bad guy but I don't care about the main character.

Ok, I'll fight you good guy.

Eventually, Zamir becomes a member of the order of the Kiltro fighters and returns to the big city to out an end to his unifinished business with the bad guy who didn't give a shit about him but for some random reason, kidnaps her soon to be her girlfriend and instead of killing the girl's dad to fulfill his revenge he patienlly awaits the return of Zamir. What for? not even the film makers knows, I'm sure. By the way, the word Kiltro, actually Quiltro is translated from spanish as "Street dog" but somehow according to the film's mood I would dare to say "Underdog" fits a better translation although it is not correct. 

So, now let's take a look at the characters:

Zamir: The main character, a stalker by nature that gets in the way of a vendetta that has nothing to do with him.

Kim: The girl Zamir swore to protect. She does not want to be protected, she doesn't even like the guy until  he rescues her at the very end of the story! Also she goes to school dressed up as an Asian student while in Chile there isn't a single school in the whole country that wears that kind of dress so that is highly inaccurate for the setting of the story. Also, his father is Korean (couldn't they hire an actual Korean girl for the role)

Max Calva: The bad guy who's after Kim's father because he got the girl and oh by the way! he is Kim's true father after he raped the woman he loved so much (WTF)

Nic Nac: Named after the cookie brand this Yoda wannabe has no meaning in the whole story but to tell Zamir "go somewhere else, I can't train you"

Master Nic Nac.

Grand finale.

José Soto: Zamir's master and guess what: He is his long lost father!!! The problem with this character is that he is supposed to be a master and he speaks in street slang all the time! how many masters have we seen in movies who spoke like they were crap? None. Oh! and he is drunk all the time.

In conclusion, I think Marko Zaror has a lot of potential as a martial artist.In fact his long time friendship with the director granted him two more films which, fortunately, improved the quality positively. I don't mean to be meant with this film but being a long time Exploitation fan I simply can not believe this film maker didn't check some of the issues his first movie plot had. Fortunately he got better in time.

Here's the movie trailer: