Eres mi héroe (My Hero) (2003)

Ramón, the protagonist of the story, has to change schools every year because of his father's job relocations. To bear that he sets three simple rules: 1) don't fight; 2) don't snitch; 3) don't cry. The rules help him avoid troubles, but also reduce the chance of befriending his schoolmates. Odd and sad, isn't it?

When his family moves to Southern Spain, it seems like they're going to stay there for much longer than just a year, and Ramón decides that the time has come to make some friends. But what does he know about friendship? Not much aside from occasional interaction with his hero, an imaginary¹ Native Indian warrior, who guides him through tough situations and helps establish relations with his new schoolmates.

Actually, there are heroes in real life as well. Spanish and Latin American coming of age movies frequently mix in political issues in children's lives (Machuca (2004), O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias (2006), Espérame mucho (1983) to name a few.) Interestingly though, priests sometimes belong to left-wing movements which looks quite unusual in comparison with the Soviet world of ex-USSR. And when it comes to politics, such people suffer a lot, and that's when their somewhat "heroic" side appears. Anyway, this movie is not an exception, and there's a leftish priest teacher at school who helps kids understand many important things including democracy, and even sex. But the most important lesson for Ramón is when he learns that:

"FRIENDSHIP: Your friend is your brother even if he fails you."

Although boys replace "fails" with another f-word, but hey, does this really change the meaning of the sentence?! :)

The will for change often means the need to lose something from the past. Indeed, Ramón has to break all of his three rules, but having carefully learned the lessons taught by his heroes he manages to make new friends (and also a girlfriend, by the way, well, sort of.) And that's only the very beginning of the film!

How to turn bullies to friends? How to keep friendship alive? How will the political situation in 1970's Spain affect it? Is that possible to stay friends after school is over? Even if the friend fails you? These and many other important questions are explored through out this movie. The ending is unexpected, very beautiful, and perfect in my opinion.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346947/
My vote: 8 of 10

[1] When I read or write the word "imaginary", I can't help recalling the South Park: Imaginationland (Video 2008).