Bad Tales 2021

This film presents a dark and surreal narrative, allegedly inspired by entries found in a young girl’s discarded diary. The authenticity of these diary entries remains questionable, creating an air of mystery. The story unfolds through a series of brief, two-minute vignettes that collectively dive into the unsettling lives of families living in a seemingly modern suburb.

Within this suburb, families are raising pubescent children, ranging from the ages of 8 to 13. These kids are unnervingly aware of the adult world, largely due to the crude behavior and deplorable antics of their parents, who openly indulge in foul language and unfiltered conversations in front of their impressionable offspring. One especially irresponsible father teaches his 12-year-old son, portrayed by Justin Korovkin, to drive their dilapidated car, offers him condoms, and even allows him to drink beer.

The film delves into the lives of a small group of children who recognize the despair surrounding their parents. Under the influence of a deranged school teacher, played by Lino Musella, they learn to create two crude yet dangerous homemade bombs. They also acquire knowledge on where to obtain inexpensive insecticides, which contain a toxic poison that affects the nervous system.

Though the bombs are discovered before they can be detonated, the film’s dark themes persist. Ultimately, the story culminates in the father and son escaping their humdrum existence, while some of the other children left behind in the suburb tragically turn to suicide. The narrative acknowledges its roots, reminding us that the harrowing events that conclude this somber tale are drawn from the pages of a young girl’s diary, leaving us to ponder the truth behind her words.