Anina is a ten-year-old schoolgirl, who is troubled by the cruel schoolmates who tease her about her name. One day, after a schoolyard skirmish with her nemesis, the principal hands each an envelope they cannot open for one week. Anina’s overwhelming curiosity takes her on an unexpected adventure. In this Latin American watercolor animation, one of this year’s most outstanding films, a schoolgirl learns about the world and true meaning of friendship. From the first scene showing the raindrops falling pitter-patter to the last scene in which Anina and her friends play together in the schoolyard, the film’s consistently beautiful color tones and lovely characters bring heart-warming and pleasant feelings. The situations that could have troubled us when we were young are portrayed from the innocent, childlike perspective, and the audience will smile at the kids’ name-calling, their nervousness while walking to the principal’s office, and their black-and-white classification of good and evil. The film is recommended for family viewing, and it is also interesting to experience the unfamiliar daily practices of Uruguay. (RHEE Soue-won)