Alfredo's tat

No really helpful ideas other than it (the "S") being symbolic for 'Scarring'--since, according to the director, Archero Manas, the movie is NOT just about child abuse, but he said it's the parallelism, that is, the two different ways pain and scarring are inflicted. He said that the father who is a tattoo artist gives his young son an artistic tattoo which is indicative of pain and scarring with a needle, while the abusive father inflicts pain and scarring through the violence delivered with a fist, an elbow, a swift-kicking shoe toe, and/or a heel stomp. Perhaps we're searching too deeply, psychologically, and overlooking the more simple symbolism?

This magnificent film so perfectly explores the many troubling thoughts parents must experience and even sweat blood over, while simply trying to steer their children down a road straighter than their own path was; trying to guide rather than direct, help somewhat avoid rather than totally prevent their child's 'painful' opportunities in an attempt to help them to learn about the tough parts of living, without damaging their fragile psyche in the process. I do -- and did -- experience these things with my two boys -- and I was so thankful that they were boys and not girls, the latter having far more avenues into possible 'bad experiences' than most boys would. But, it's never easy, unless you overprotect them, which I believe is even far worse, since they end up knowing nothing about finding their own way through Life's trials and tribulations. God help us all.
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There are no ordinary moments; there's never nothing going on