ook what I found.” As a grandfatherly figure (Nacho, played by Eligio Melendez) explains to young Maria Gonzalez (Maria Fernanda Ayala), all the little yellow flowers on the rows after rows of green plants will soon grow into plump, red tomatoes. But it’ll take time; they must be cared for, fed, and pruned so that they’ll ripen properly. This work amuses the diminutive girl, though she doesn’t understand it. Instead, she wonders about her father, who is away in the United States. Mother Elena (Maria Melendez) worries about her daughter’s education, while also thinking of future prospects, including the potential for a real career when former employer Ana wants to open a pottery store with her. But they’d all have to move to the city, which would uproot Maria’s father from the ranch and the land that he’s worked in all his life.

“Why doesn’t anything go right for me?” As the characters contend with sudden changes, legacies (no matter how minimal) and pride, and a dark secret about Maria’s father, their personal and familial struggles are nicely brought to life by a trio of convincing actors. Even the child star isn’t bad. There’s a pleasant authenticity in the sets, environments, and props, too, as well as with the costuming and dialogue. Unfortunately, the character development carries on for a touch too long in a picture that clocks in at less than 20 minutes (at the start, it practically resembles a documentary) – a tough balancing act for a short subject; for every sequence that builds up the roles, it takes away from progressing with a plot. Often, it’s more about a feeling than a drive.

However, once it returns to its purpose, which is to contemplate the design of traditional families and the intentions of giving children a better life than those of the parents – a focus on subsequent generations and their wealth and happiness, rather than on the present – its sweetness and sentimentality are apparent. It’s a small, intimate tale that requires little when it comes to budgeting and effects and locations, but it has plenty of heart. “The Perfect Tomato” doesn’t attempt to accomplish something outside of its scope and ability; it sticks with its minimalist approach to storytelling and successfully lands its simple message about ambition and promotions versus peace and contentment.

– Mike Massie