Argentine Cinema

The Argentines are producing some very interesting cinema, particularly in recent years. Besides the Official Story, which was made in the 80's, you should also check out "A Man Facing Southeast," though only vhs copies can be found in the U.S.

But a new generation of filmmakers in Argentina is quickly making their mark on the world stage. Unfortunately, many of their films are not available outside of Spanish speaking countries, unless you have access to international film festivals where you live.

One of my favorite new director's is Lucretia Martel (Holy Girl, Cienaga), but she is not for everyone. She is available on dvd, as are other young talents like Adrian Caetano, Pablo Trapero, and Daniel Burman. More conventional filmmakers like Juan Jose Campanella (Son of The Bride), and the recently deceased Fabien Belinsky (Nueve Reinas), or crowd pleasers like "Valentin," are also worth checking out

This link will take you to an informative article: www.fipresci.org/world_cinema/south/south_english_argentinean_cinema_new_wave.htm

Thanks for the the article!



This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

Favorite films from ARGENTINA:
1)"El Faro"
2)"Man Facing Southeast"
3)"Don't Die Without telling me Where you are Going"
4)"Paradise Ashes"
5)"I,the Worst of All"
6)"Camila"
7)"La Senora de Nadie"

"Between independence & dependence is...PUBERTY!!"

Historias Mínimas (Minimal Stories) by Carlos Sorín
Bolivia by Adrián Caetano (black and white)
Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens) by Bielinsky
Hombre Mirando al Sudeste (Man Facing Southwest) by Eliseo Subiela
El Lado Oculto del Corazón (The Dark Side of the Heart) by Eliseo Subiela
Esperando la Carroza by Alejandro Doria (humor perhaps no understandable for non-Argentines)
Luna de Avellaneda (Moon of Avellaneda) by Juan José Campanella.
La Patagonia Rebelde (Rebel Patagonia) by Héctor Olivera
Un Lugar en el Mundo (A Place in the World) by Adolfo Aristarain
El Abrazo Partido (Lost Embrace) by Daniel Burman.

Héctor K.

I forgot about Carlos Sorin. I liked Minimal Stories a lot, and he has a new one out called La Ventana, which has played well in festivals. While naming some very good films, you left off two of my favorite contemporary Argentine directors. Just saw and loved Trapero's Familia Rodante, Burman's El Nido Vacio, and La Nina Santa, by Martel is one of my favorite films of the new century.

I think Lucrecia Martel is the most important argentinian director of (at least) this century. Her three movies are absolutely brilliant.

Other argentinian directors I like are:

Lisandro Alonso (La Libertad, Los Muertos, El Fantasma, Liverpool), very much in the line of Pedro Costa, Naomi Kawase, Apichatpong, etc.

Esteban Sapir (Picado Fino, La Antena) only if you like experimental (though "watchable") stuff.

Carlos Sorín: Already mentioned. My favorite of his movies is "La Película del Rey"

Hugo Santiago (Invasion) A very interesting filmmaker from the sixties.

The one internationally famous Argentine director was Leopoldo Torre Nilsson,who died in 1978,but made several memorable films which satirised the bourgeoisie in the manner of Buñuel.
Also ,of expatriate directors there are Edgardo Cozarinsky and Eduardo De Gregorio who have made some very good films,heavily influenced by Borges, in France.

El perro (2004)
Iluminados por el fuego (2005)
El método (2005)

I have seen only the first.