`DUCK SEASON' WORTH HUNTING FOR.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

`DUCK SEASON'' is one of those beautifully observed movies in which not much seems to happen, but, in reality, everything does. Recalling with its droll humor and stark, static style Jim Jarmusch's ``Stranger Than Paradise,'' this debut feature from Mexican filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke captures the restlessness and confusion of adolescence in ways both funny and profound. It is a film of small pleasures that add up into a wonderfully satisfying experience.

The opening credits are set to the bouncy ``El Pato,'' but there's nothing joyful about the series of black-and-white, Mexican location shots seen shortly afterward - dilapidated tenement houses, bleak skies filled with power lines, and the sounds of traffic and car alarms in the background.

Next we find ourselves in an apartment house hallway: It's Sunday morning, 11 o'clock. A fixed camera shot shows a mother leaving instructions for two 14-year-old boys as she departs, then returns (``Did I turn off the pilot?'') departs, returns (``The coffee maker?'') and then finally leaves for good. After a few perfectly timed beats, one of the boys cautiously opens the door. Mom's gone! Their cry of exultation practically shakes the foundation of the building.

Best friends Flama (Daniel Miranda) and Moko (Diego Catano) have the day mapped out - potato chips, soda, pizza and violent video games on the X-box. But you know what they say about the best-laid plans. First, 16- year-old neighbor Rita (Danny Perea) knocks on the door (love the peephole viewpoint), asking to use the oven to bake a cake. The pizza man (Enrique Arreola) arrives - 11 seconds late by the boys' stopwatch. They refuse to pay; he refuses to leave.

And then the power goes out.

For the next few hours, these four characters pair off in different combinations, and slowly, subtly, Eimbcke reveals the foursome's dreams and disappointments, pasts and presents through black humor, graceful understanding and a bare minimum of plot. It's all done with a great deal of precision and inventiveness; the movie is worth seeing alone just for its imaginative visual scheme.

The title of ``Duck Season'' comes from a painting that hangs in the apartment. It's a cheesy, old-school oil painting of ducks taking flight from a pond. Flama's parents won it in a raffle, and, in one of the film's revelations, it has taken on a nasty second life.

The characters spend a fair amount of time staring at the painting, but, with his gentle hand, Eimbcke doesn't cram any symbolism down your throat. The adolescent boys may be taking flight soon on their own migratory path. And that painting's uncomplicated, plain vista might not look so corny 10 or 20 years in their future. The meaning is up to you, but, guaranteed, you'll be thinking about that piece of art long after seeing this wonderful movie.

Glenn Whipp, [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

DUCK SEASON - Three and one half stars

(R: language, some drug content)

Starring: Daniel Miranda, Diego Catano, Danny Perea, Enrique Arreola.

Director: Fernando Eimbcke.

Running time: 1 hr. 25 min.

Playing: Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena; Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood; Laemmle's Monica in Santa Monica.

In a nutshell: Two 14-year-old boys while away the afternoon in a movie in which nothing much happens - and yet everything does. Beautifully observed, imaginatively filmed debut feature from Mexican filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke. In Spanish with English subtitles.