Written & directed by Diego Vicentini, “Simon” (Original title: Simón) is one of the most depressing films in the recent past. Not because it is filled with graphic visuals or gore but because it reflects a reality we are witnessing across the globe. So, it hits home the way Alex Garland’s “Civil War” does. It follows a Venezuelan man who moves to Miami and seeks asylum after escaping a tyrannical regime in his homeland. The film portrays young people fighting with the hope of freedom, trying to come to terms with reality. It shows their constant mental struggle to choose between two evils.
Spoilers Ahead
Simon (2023) ‘Netflix’ Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Diego Vicentini’s “Simon” follows a Venezuelan freedom fighter coping with PTSD and trauma after being exiled to the US. It largely follows his dilemma between starting a new life or fighting for a righteous cause he believes in. The film was a part of multiple film festivals and was also nominated for a Goya award.
What happens in ‘Simon’?
Diego Vicentini’s “Simon” follows a young man named Simón (Christian McGaffney), who flees his homeland in Venezuela to the United States. We see him struggle to make peace with his new reality as he escapes the tragic past. Upon being exiled, he moves to Miami, Florida, and begins his new life. As an asylum seeker in the US, he barely manages to scrape by in his daily life. He works at a restaurant’s back-end team while sleeping anywhere with the help of his local aid, Helena (Prakriti Maduro). She offers him help with necessities like mattresses, clothes, and shelter.
Since Simón needs help with his asylum application, Helena introduces him to Melissa (Jana Nawartschi). Melissa is a US resident who hopes to use her law degree for humanitarian causes. She hears Simon’s story about how he and his peers opposed the tyrannical regime in their home country. In the face of injustice, Simón and his friends decided to take a stance but faced some evident pitfalls. Before, Simón studied engineering and wanted to work in the civil engineering sector to improve the country’s infrastructure. However, he felt morally obliged to partake in a fight against their oppressive regime.
Simón’s Traumatizing Past
In Venezuela, Simón was a college student with a loyal group of friends. At the time, the country was facing severe injustice. After hearing about the death of one of their friends, Simón became impassioned to fight the righteous fight. He took his outrage to the streets with his peers to protest. But the regime decided to divide and conquer them. They arrested Simón and his friend Chucho (Roberto Jaramillo), along with some other youths. The officers in charge tortured them to weaken their revolutionary spirit and make them leave their righteous mission. Unlike Simón & Chucho, other inmates were not actively fighting against the regime, most likely due to the fear of consequences. So, they argued with Simón & Chucho, for getting them into that mess.
The officers subjected every one of them to torture, expecting a confession to benefit the regime. They manipulated the youths by threatening their family members. Colonel Lugo (Franklin Vírgüez) expected Simón to sign a document that would invalidate his morals through a series of lies. Instead of giving in to the pressure, Simón refused to do as told and conveyed his spirit of protest. Meanwhile, Joaquín (Luis Silva) folded under the officers’ pressure and disclosed the details of the protests. So, he safely got out, leaving the likes of Simón stranded and struggling.
Melissa & Simón’s Idealistic Drive
For the US Asylum application, Simón needs to share details about his past in Venezuela. He remembers how he pushed his mates in the fight for justice and freedom. Simón wanted to fight against the lack of bare necessities in a country with over 96% of the population in poverty. As he speaks about it, he struggles to breathe. Mellisa realizes that he is still suffering from the effects of PTSD, and calms him down. She asks him if someone can corroborate his stories to help make a strong case for his application. While speaking with them on a video call, he realizes that Adriana (Arianne Giron) is suffering due to the lack of insulin supply in their country.
Melissa helps Simón acquire insulin injections for his friend. Her mother, Dr Moore (Sallie Glaner), can’t provide it without a local prescription. She notes that she can lose her medical license if she helps. Melissa doesn’t like that her mother isn’t driven to help people despite her privilege. Unlike her mother, he is idealistic like Simón and hopes to make a tangible change with her qualifications. Although low on hope, Simón finds a way to acquire insulin from an under-the-radar source. With Melissa’s help, he escapes a probable brawl and sends insulin back home. Then, he feels comfortable to speak about his application. His friends agree to sign it.
Simon (2023) ‘Netflix’ Movie Ending Explained:
What decision does Simón take about his life?
After Simón’s friends agree to help him with his application, they ask him to join a discussion for the next course of action for youth across Venezuela. Although Simón still believes in those ideals, he seems weary of fighting after all that he encountered. Regardless, he agrees to join their meeting. Later, he joins Melissa for a dance in a local club. Suddenly, he notices Joaquín walking in and gets overtaken by anger. So, he punches Joaquín in the face. Soon after, the police arrest Simón for assault. To help Simón, Melissa tries to find the root of his anger. She looks for Joaquín’s details on the internet and finds him in person.
Melissa requests Joaquín to take back his assault case against Simón to stop his asylum application from getting jeopardized. After her passionate plea, Joaquín agrees to help. However, in jail, he gets into a heated argument with Simón. So, the officers don’t let Simón out right away. Still, Melissa continues with her efforts, which eventually helps Simón be free. Once he gets out of jail, he meets Joaquin and hugs him. They both decide to get over their past differences and lead the path with compassion. Soon after, Simón enters the interview for his asylum application. While the officer expects him to explain his past, Simón finds himself stuck in a state of limbo and still contemplating.
Read More: Everything Coming to Netflix in June 2024
Trailer:
![Anek [2022] Review – Righteous Ideas And Themes Collide Into A Narrative Hotchpotch](https://www.highonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Anek-Movie-Review-2022-768x432.webp)
