El Cine

Last week I had the privilege of attending a film showing Elefante Blanco (White Elephant); a film set in the flavelas of Retiro, in Buenos Aires. With a spectacular script, Elefante Blanco humanized both the role of the flavelas and the catholic church in the city in a way I have never seen on screen before. The importance of Catholicism to the people here is undeniable, and this film so honestly portrayed the informal interactions of priests within these neighborhoods. It also allowed for an understanding of the interworking of an area of Buenos Aires I will never see. The film was entirely in spanish and I didn't have subtitles to bail me out, but it was well worth the brain power. Elefante Blanco was directed by Pablo Trapero and premiered at the Cannes Film festival earlier this year. The neighborhood in which this film took place is three train stops away from my station; about fifteen minuets.

Two days ago I attended the film premier of El Premio//The Prize. Part of the Festival International de Cine de los Derechos Humanos (International Film Festival of Human Rights), The film followed Cici, a 9 year old girl, through the story of a life in hiding from an Argentine regime during the Dirty War Era. The film was brilliant, and though there were subtitles (Something I did not expect) they were unnecessary. The acting was powerful, and often wordless, and the film beautifully captured the fear, confusion, longing and innocence of the protagonist. The filmography was natural and the characters honest. The most interesting element of the film was the way sound was incorporated. The sound wasn't buffered, muffled or adjusted to be the same volume the entire film. In fact, in contrast to the Hollywood norm, the sounds varied in volume so drastically that you felt the shock, pain and annoyance along with the characters; an element I believe did nothing but add to the film itself. El Premio was produced by a Mexican Film company in 2011, and ran 107 min. It was directed by Paula Markovitch and has won numerous awards including Best Picture at the Morlina Film Festival. I was also fortunate enough to meet the two actresses who stared in the movie, Paulina Galinelli Hertzog, who plays Cici, and Viviana Suraniti who plays Maestra Rosita.

Cici (left) and friend in the Cold Southern Beach Setting of El Premio

Photo Credit

It's a good time to be in Argentina. If you're a film junkie, head on down.

As always,
Besos,
Hil

Culture Me

A week or so ago, I played the cheap card, donned my hipster shoes, and headed to the free exhibits at the  Malba. One of the best known modern art museums in Buenos Aires the Malba has hosted many famous artists in it's lifespan including Xu Solar, Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, Frida Kahlo, and Jorge de la Vega. Chances are, you know at least one name on that list. You get it, impressive stuff. This also happened to be the weekend of the BAFICI, also known as a free film and arts festival. After taking in the wonderful, wild and wacky art (Think everything from classic muralist, to satirical feminist brail collages),   Tiff, Monae, Andrea and I headed to this mall that housed an event center and a free concert. After the free concert, we sat on the steps outside the shopping center to take in some local musical talent in the form of five wonderful street performers. Good times. Good people*.

Because we weren't allowed to take photos, I wasn't able to get the names of all the artists featured, so I'm sure there is some form of copyright discrepancy playing out in the following photos. I will also be naming the pieces of art myself. I heretofore claim 'not guilty' to owning any of these. Also, Andrea took most of them anyway. Sneaky girl. 

*I officially miss anyone that would understand this reference 

Outside of the Malba (obviously?)

I do wish you could see the line of hipsters more clearly

I call this one: Woman staring at deformed bear cub around neon fire.

Giant melty plastic pieces in abstract form

I don't have a name for this one, but one of the monster things had boobs.

This was part of the 'Bye Bye American Pie exhibit.' 

I've fondly named this one: Pretty sure this has already been done with 

Helen Bonham Carter's face in Alice and Wonderland advertisements in 2010

Finally cleaned out from under my bed, here, you can have it. 

My dad would steal this bench in a heartbeat

Anna Hein in 65 years

This was the band we saw. The lead singer strikingly resembled Edna Mode 

I don't remember their name. The bassist was a badass. Think Sloan in Raise Your Voice

Inside of the Shopping/Event Center

Of course there was an indoor ferris wheel. 

Waiting for Monae to finish taking pictures

The street band. Yes, that is a cello and our friend with the beard is singing Willie Nelson

As always, Besos, 

Hil