Writer/Director Kenny Riches (Must Come Down, MSPIFF 2014) creates an endearing socially conscious portrait of Miami characters in the quirky, yet refreshingly grounded The Strongest Man. The lives of Beef, an anxiety-ridden Cuban twentysomehting construction worker, and his Korean friend Conan get bumped off track the moment they agree to attend a spiritual meditation class. Not fully understanding the metaphor, Beef and Conan embark on a journey to find their respective power animals on the streets of Miami, where both wild dogs and chickens seemingly run rampant.
As Conan’s relationship with his family crumbles, Beef’s relationship with his neighbor, a charming young woman named Illi, unexpectedly begins to flourish. But even with this excitement, Beef can’t seem to escape a looming anxiety that lurks around every corner.
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The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul is supported in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State's general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.