The best gift
Réalisation Argenis Herrera Sánchez
Chile · 2026 · 23 min · Animals; Social issues; Country Life; Sports; Educational; Family; Childhood; Youth; Nature; Mental health; Old Age
Film soumis au RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
Humberto doesn't want to attend his grandson's birthday party because he has panic attacks whenever he gets in a car, ever since his daughter Hortensia died in a traffic accident. He gives the boy a mare as a gift, while his wife gives him a PlayStat
À propos du film
Humberto talks with his wife Adelaida while she cleans the car where their daughter Hortensia died. They argue because he refuses to travel to the birthday celebration of his grandson Maximiliano, son of his other daughter Sofía. She tells him he needs to see a doctor because of the panic he feels when getting into a car since Hortensia's death. Sofía comes to visit with the boy. She expresses her displeasure at having to make such a long trip, especially now that the birthday girl is busy preparing the party. Humberto gives the boy Amapola, the mare that belonged to his deceased daughter, calling it "the best gift in the world." When Humberto is at the rodeo arena, showing Maximiliano tricks with the mare, Adelaida comes in and gives him a PlayStation. The excited boy loses interest in the animal and rushes to play the game, but not before happily shouting that "this is the best gift in the world!" While Maximiliano plays soccer on the PlayStation, Humberto suggests they go riding the mare so he can "decide which gift he likes best." The boy agrees, on the condition that his grandfather rides with him. While they're riding, Maximiliano confesses that his mother told him she "doesn't plan to come back to this house." They go for a ride through the countryside on the mare. As they pass the car, the boy asks if it's "covered because he's scared." When his grandfather doesn't answer, Maximiliano tells him that when he's scared at school, he does a dance. Then, he shows the dance to his grandfather. At dinner, Humberto argues with Sofía when she downplays his grandfather's offer to teach the boy to ride the mare. The old man, who has been drinking wine, takes the opportunity to reproach her for supposedly putting ideas in his sister Hortensia's head about moving to the city. Sofía, flustered, asks him why he never gave her a mare. Humberto faces the car, gets in, and experiences a panic attack, recalling the night of Hortensia's accident, when he advised her to go out with her friends, even though it was raining and against his wife's wishes. He faints. Then he gets out of the car and vomits. Humberto goes inside and apologizes to his daughter's portrait; Adelaida approaches him and tells him that "it wasn't his fault." The next day, Sofia, Adelaida, and Maximiliano leave in a taxi for Sofia's house. Humberto changes his mind and rushes out onto Amapola to chase after them. The boy realizes his grandfather is following them, so the car stops. Sofia comes face to face with her father. He smiles at her, and they hug. She invites him to get in the car, which he accepts after some hesitation. Inside the car, Humberto experiences another panic attack. The boy starts doing the dance that helps him overcome his fear at school. His grandfather joins in, then Sofia. The three of them dance and laugh inside the car. As the car drives away, the boy hugs his grandfather and exclaims, "This is the best gift in the universe!"
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RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026