ME, TOO (Yo, tambien) takes us into the world of Down syndrome people as we've not seen it previously: in an encompassing manner that includes home life, the workplace, romance and... sex. Unlike earlier movies that have addressed the needs of "special" people -- come on, can we say "handicapped"? -- such as The Other Sister or last year's fine Italian film We Can Do That -- by using gifted actors playing these "special people" -- this film, written and directed by Álvaro Pastor (shown below, right) and Antonio Naharro (below, left), uses a Down syndrome young man (Pablo Pineda) in the leading role.

 

It's not so easy is watching Mr Pineda -- a very obvious member of the Down crowd -- as he negotiates his way around and into a friendship, love and even sexual relationship with one of his co-workers, another "outsider" beautfully limned by Almodóvar actress Lola Dueñas (above, right, and below, left). Pineda is very, very good, mind you. He is utterly believable, moment to moment, in everything he does. The difficulty comes from seeing someone so "other" trying to fit into the "normal" world. 

It's so there, right in front of us (as it is in front of Dueñas), and there is no escaping the visual differences, for her or for us.  That she -- and, I think, we -- can finally see beyond the mere visual is the great strength of this movie -- which never shies away from the physical side of Down syndrome.The film is full of fine, funny and telling moments.

 

Daniel's brother (played by filmmaker Naharro) warning him, "Don't fall in love with a woman with 46-chromosomes; she's not going to be interested."  Later, when things don't work out to Daniel's liking and he rants to his brother about the unfairness of his brother's life as compared to his own, "Don't make me feel guilty for having what I have!" the brother insists.

 

The back-story given the Dueñas character also helps the movie work from a psychological aspect, while the scruffy beard that Daniel wears, adds some maturity and weight to his appearance. The movie gets so many details right, and these add immeasurably to its believability.

 

Spain today, for all of  its current economic problems, seems like a model society in many ways.  How it  treats all of its people is one big sign of its progress.Me,Too,also unrated and, again, I'd allow any age child into this movie -- opens this Friday, November 19, in New York City at the Cinema Village.  I hope this film, too, makes it into other theaters across our country, and onto DVD.