Carancho

I believe I watched this movie in one long sigh, probably with my mouth open all the time. I suppose is not an easy-to-watch film for many as so realistically shows what is truth in so many countries in the world. It was hard-to-watch for me because I know that I just have to go to other side of the city I’m currently living to watch live many of the things portrayed here even if insurance payouts does not really exist here as a flourishing industry. Maybe because of the last comment the film make me feel similar emotions as when I watched Cristi Puiu’s The Death of Mr. Lazarescu.

I was absolutely overcome by the story but this could not have been  possible if the movie was not almost flawless. Pablo Trapero’s movie is a very complete cinematic experience that successfully travels many film genres and with a film noir (strict term definition) style tells about the sleazy lawyer business that takes advantage of people misfortunes. Set in a Buenos Aires bleak suburb film slowly introduces characters, so slowly that you start to get anxious for the drama to explode and when it does you find no relief as tension only goes up. Very painful to watch but also very gratifying if you appreciate good world cinema. Yes this Trapero’s movie belongs to world cinema as absolutely goes far beyond the Latin American current cinema jungle.

As I said before, I’ll watch everything with Ricardo Darin, he’s such a multifaceted actor that since the first film I saw with him, a very long time ago, has blown my mind as he always so-well creates intense complex characters no matter the role he plays. Sleazy lawyer Sosa is no exception, as with sights, body language and facial expressions makes a non-likable character totally human in every sense of the word. Amazing. But here we also have Pablo Trapero’s real-life wife in another mesmerizing-to-watch role. My first experience with Martina Gusman was in Trapero’s Leonera (Lion’s Den), have seen some of her TV work but definitively is one actress that I’ll follow especially after watching how good she created Luján the complex young doctor that recently arrived to Buenos Aires from the provinces. Superb actors and great cast.

As a movie has a technical quality equal… no, above great world cinema. I know that many will inevitably make comparisons between this movie and the one that won the Oscar last year for Best foreign language film as both star Ricardo Darin, but not only Darin has two very different roles but also films are very different. Is precisely in the technical quality where both Darin’s stellar films have the most difference as Trapero’s film is superior to The Secret of Their Eyes. That’s how good tech specs are in this movie as absolutely are essential part of everything that happens in the narrative.

Definitively not an easy-to-watch movie but one that everyone that loves great world cinema should watch and as such I strongly recommend it; absolutely must be seen to those that chose to follow Ricardo Darin and Martina Gusman performances and most of all, to realize how Pablo Trapero is becoming a master filmmaker.

My fourth 2010 Cannes film and it’s official, I’m slowly changing my perception of the festival film quality from the so-so to the great! Hope the trend continues as I go on further exploring the films.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

El Secreto de sus Ojos (The Secret of Her Eyes)

I wonder if I ever saw any of the American TV work Juan Jose Campanella has done in the USA; but I have seen some of the shows like House M.D., 30 Rock and Law & Order Criminal Intent where he has directed some episodes. I do not recall having seen any of his movies but now after watching this movie I’m interested in watching more of his Argentinean work. Yes this movie is good, very fast attention grabber, entertaining and somehow resembling good old-fashion cinema so good that made me think I was watching a film by Hitchcock.

Most call it cinema noir and it is; but this drama, romance, humor, crime, thriller and Argentinean justice dissection looks and feels mainstream; yet, at the same time is artish as has slowish pace, excellent frame compositions with many close-ups, constant chiaroscuro in indoor scenes, great outdoor cinematography, extraordinary performances by leads (especially Ricardo Darin) and a director -who also edited- that created flawless narration even when it moves back and forth in time.

If this movie was an American production I would not be that impressed as has the high production values most Hollywood movies have. But being an Argentina and Spain production the film really raises the standard for other mainstream filmmakers in the Latin American region.

What impressed me the most is how Campanella was able to find a superb cinematic visual and narrative language to tell so much about Argentinians idiosyncrasy that you will highly enjoy if you’re familiar with them and you also will highly enjoy if you know nothing about Argentina and/or Argentinians. Obviously co writing the script with Eduardo Sacheri, who wrote the novel, had to help the narrative; but the visual language, the fabulous screen chemistry between Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil, and the dry humor of Guillermo Francella belongs to a great director.

Some have criticized one aspect and I tend to agree, the many faux finales in the last third of the movie. I think that the movie impeccable flow was cut with the first black screen that suggested the end; but when it was it was repeated again and again, it was too much. There was no need to lead viewers to think that the film is over, the great story didn't needed the gimmick.

So, what’s the story about? On the surface is about a Judge Office clerk that after retiring decides to write his first novel. The novel will tell about a case that changed his life, his boss life and his co-worker’s life. The case: rape and murder of a beautiful young woman. So you see the present when Esposito (Ricardo Darin) is writing the novel and you see the past flawlessly intertwined. But below the surface the story is about social class differences, power abuse, the lightness of justice, empty lives, old age, revenge, impotence, powerless, honesty, forgetting what you still remember but don’t want to recall, eternal love, obsession and gee, so many more things that make the story really interesting.

I liked the movie as is entertaining with an artish style. I have the impression that the film has a cinematic language that Academy members are familiar and will easily understand; so, I wouldn’t be surprised if the movie makes the list of 5 nominated for the Best Foreign Language film at the upcoming Oscars, which will mean another top honor in the list of honors that the film has been collecting since was premiered at the 2009 San Sebastian fest where won the top honor.

If you’re familiar with Latin American cinema you have to see this movie to realize how high the bar has gone for other mainstream filmmakers in the area. The film is suited for adult audiences that want to enjoy a good film that will grab their attention fast and hold it until the very end.

Me, I’ll watch everything with Ricardo Darin and here he is extraordinary!!!

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Gigante

A charming story in a not so interesting film that has been collecting honors at 2009 Berlinale and 2009 San Sebastian fest. With all the major awards I was really looking forward to watch the movie and enjoy it, but didn’t happened as I found actors performances too forced and not conveying emotions at many times, the pace way too slow (and remember that I LOVE slow paced movies), not many visually interesting scenes and a director that still have to improve (a lot) his filmmaker skills as this great story deserved a better filmmaker and storyteller.

Yes the story is a really charming one-way falling-in-love story with nice feel good comedy and a happy ending that will please many. The story tells about Jara a heavyset supermarket security ward on the nightshift that slowly develops a “crush” for Julia, a night cleaning lady. The twist is that 30ish Jara is a BIG baby that totally behaves like a young kid, much like his twelve year-old nephew, so his “crush” is stalker-obsessive but totally harmless.

As a matter of fact the scenes that really annoyed me were the ones were the director tried once, twice and many more times to show that Jara was a harmless big kid in a grown-up man's body. I got it the first time. There was no need to constantly show that Jara was not a stalker and that his “crush” was a “puppy” love.

The only reason I watched until the end was because I wanted to know how the story ended and if it wasn’t for the story I would have stopped watching the film. Hmm, this talks about the power of an idea, but also tells about how the other variables in film-making are as important as the story idea.

I cannot recommend this movie.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

La Rabia

Very interesting film by Albertina Carri that definitively is art cinema with great slowish pace that allows full contemplation, some truly amazing Pampa photography, great bare setting in an Argentinean Hacienda and good actor’s performances that totally convince that neighbors are not always welcome to your life and if you do so, take responsibility for the consequences.

Produced by Pablo Trapero (director of great Leonera), the story written also by Carri tells about a mute little girl, Nati, that has her life upside down because she has seen her mother having sex with the neighbor. Nati tells us the story with her drawings that become quite interesting animated inkblot drawings; when the drawings are animated they tell what the girl saw and what will come next. Some call the story an erotic tale, probably because Nati’s mother and the neighbor have raw and noisy sex; but I found nothing erotic, as I tend to believe that their sex is violent just as everything else that happens in the story. But violence is raw and very similar to life in the country of many Latin American countries.

Be aware that if you have not experienced life in remote areas where animals live and die just as humans, you could be offended by the use in this film of unfaked animal deaths. By the way La Rabia means “the rage”, but here is the name of the sleepy village and is also what all the characters feel at one moment in the story.

I found many scenes similar to what I have seen in Carlos Reygadas movies, including the use of fix and/or slow panning camera to capture nature at its best. These scenes make the film breathtaking. But I found one key difference; in Reygadas movies I can’t guess the story, while in Carri’s film I guessed the story right quite early. Still it was a pleasure watching the great tech specs of the film.

The movie was screened at the 2008 Belinale in the Panorama Special section and traveled the festival circuit where was honored with nominations and awards, including winning Best Director in the 2008 Havana Latin American fest and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2008 Transilvania fest.

I know that this film is not for all audiences not only because is art, but also because the animals that are killed and the raw/noisy sex scenes; but I do recommend the movie as an excellent example of the new wave of Latin American art cinema.

Definitively this is one female director that I'll try to see more of her work.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Die Tränen meiner Mutter (My Mother’s Tears)

I find the movie premise interesting as is about a couple that flees Argentina in the early 80’s with their boy Alex and end up in Berlin living in an industrial loft with a group of odd people, mostly artists. The story is told by Alex and is an autobiographical recount of the director, Alejandro Cardenas-Amelio that definitively is watchable, a little entertaining and non-political drama. But I needed more ordinary life drama as I found the movie too light for the theme and kept watching just to find what happens in the end of the movie, which by the way is the beginning.

Watching until the end was easy because tech package is good especially the sets and cinematography. This Argentina and Germany production was honored at 2008 Shanghai fest were won the Golden Goblet Best Cinematography, was nominated for the International Jury Award at 2008 Sao Paulo International Film Festival and perhaps the most colorful character Sik played by Alice Dwyer was honored at the 2008 Max Ophüls Preis fest with the Best Actress award.

This is a movie that you will not remember after watching as it does not have a storytelling that will impact you; but the film is entertaining because the many characters and the many regular life incidents that happen.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

El Niño Pez (The Fish Child)

The second movie by Lucia Puenzo, after her great XXY, is totally unexpected as the story is quite different to what I imagined according to the buzz and trailer. Based on the book Puenzo wrote when she was younger, this is a not too complex story about the need and what you’re willing to do for personal freedom.

I have to share with you all what I found most amazing; in the book the story is narrated by the dog! Well, I just imagine if the director had chosen to keep the movie narrated by a dog, that would have been something quite interesting to see how can be done. But the film follows a non-linear narrative of present and past until both tempos meet and the story flows forward up to the end, and no one narrates the story.

Perhaps for some and according to what I read in the net, the film may seem complex with many themes going on. I believe that if you find the story complex could be because the extraordinary editing that makes the story even more twisted with some great touches of the thriller genre. But for me that’s exactly what makes this film out of the ordinary.

Most scenes are filmed with minimum lighting and some not usual angles; thus, gives the impression that the viewer is inside the film like a participating intruder which makes you feel emotions that complete whatever is happening in the screen. Dialogue is not that important and has many incomplete sentences that finish with actors’ expressions and/or viewers imagination.

On the surface this is a story of strong love between two young women, but you will soon notice that the movie is not about that love. The love is the propeller of everything that happens in the story, but is totally secondary to the need to be free from everything that surrounds both of them.

So what you will see in the screen? You will see a privileged young woman Lala (Ines Efron – the same actress of XXY) that’s totally in love with young Paraguayan housemaid, La Guayi (Mariela Vitali). La Guayi came to the house when she was 13 and now 6 years after, both are about the same age and both are in love. But La Guayi’s life is not easy as she has a not so happy past and living in Buenos Aires is never easy for foreigners that willingly or not are forced to do many things, including sleeping with Lala’s father and other men that helped her when she first arrived. They want to leave and go to Paraguay, so Lala is selling things from her wealthy house to have enough money for the trip and to built a house near the lake in La Guayi’s small village in Paraguay. But nothing comes easy for this pair … until the happy end.

The movie touches quite a few subjects like incest, lesbian love, murder, police/prison corruption, xenophobia, class differences, indigenous population magical stories, punishment just because who you are and how you look like, the so common “tradition” of males in the household sleeping with the maids, and several others. But you have to see how flawlessly Puenzo blends these so diverse themes into one simple story about the desire to be free and discovering how much you are willing to do to obtain it and to stay together.

I find Puenzo’s second film a lot stronger than the first; not only because of the story but also for her visual style and how she flawlessly handled what could have been a very difficult film. Still, I would just have love if the dog narrated the story! Lol! This is another film that totally mesmerizes me and another great female director from the Latin American region that’s developing her own style. Bravo!!!

The movie is more art cinema that her previous film, so there has to be many that will not enjoy the flashbacks and will have some difficulty to follow the story. But if you appreciate good serious cinema with great tech specs, then I suggest you do not miss this film even if you do not particularly like the lesbian interest genre.

I was expecting a “normal” lesbian interest movie. This film definitively is not the regular fare in the genre, but I know that many that like the genre will be interested in watching and I suggest to lower your expectations about the lesbian content and perhaps you will enjoy this great film that goes beyond the traditional love affair between two women.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion