David (Mauricio di Yorio) is not like your ordinary teenager. He obsessively works on his body—day and night—to reach the idealized self of a bodybuilder. His mother Juana (Umbra Colombo), a well-known artist, controls David’s every move and behavior, overseeing all aspects of her son’s regimen and his daily weightlifting training. As David dedicates himself to further developing his physique, his social life begins to call out to him. His clique of male friends, who relish making lewd and inappropriate jokes whenever they hang out, begins to beckon David to be more outgoing—while attractive classmate Mica sets her eyes on David and works to win him over. As social commitments start to intrude on his commitment to his unrelenting physical training, a disoriented David begins to pursue other methods to reach and fulfill physical perfection.

Felipe Gomez Aparicio delivers a visually stunning and provocative character-driven drama in The Perfect David. With enveloping atmospheric cinematography and a pulsating score, Aparicio’s narrative masterfully explores the manipulation and toxicity generated between the determined David and his controlling and perfectionist mother—who has substantial stakes in having her son reach peak physique. The film delivers expertly controlled performances from its leads through a disturbing exploration of the darker reaches of body image—that builds to a startling and deeply unsettling climax. —Jose Rodriguez

Felipe Gómez Aparicio