THE LAST PUESTERO is playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my spoiler-free take:
THE LAST PUESTERO is a documentary-short that follows the lonely lifestyle of a gaucho, Adonai Jara, in Patagonia. It’s a small, intimate portrayal of a job that’s no longer in high demand. Watching Jara is bittersweet, as he’s so dedicated to his work that he endures the isolation from his own family. The film left me feeling bittersweet, as I was moved by Jara’s dedication and the sacrifices he makes for his way of life.
Director Belle Casares uses the short documentary format to create an emotional and moving portrayal of the dying art of the puestero. In Patagonian culture, a puestero is a traditional ranch caretaker responsible for managing vast areas of pastureland and livestock, maintaining a lifestyle passed down through generations. The main story focuses on Jara and the reality that he might not pass along the tradition to his son. That theme resonates, but at times I wish Casares had leaned into that story more, rather than focusing on sweeping drone shots of the countryside and the details of what it means to be a puestero. I could see a fantastic dynamic developing between Jara and his son, only for it to be cut short by the standard “what happened?” text on the screen at the film’s closing.
Final Thought: The authentic feel and tribute to the beauty of Patagonia genuinely capture the lonely life of a puestero, Adonai Jara. It’s a small portrayal that could’ve used a longer runtime and more time with Jara’s son.
THE LAST PUESTERO premieres at at SBIFF on Sat 2/7 – 8:40 PM
