Co-presented by the Consulate General and Promotion Center of the Argentine Republic in Los Angeles. Sponsored by LAN Airlines, Wines of Argentina and W Hollywood
The 10th annual Argentina New Cinema series returns with another impressive lineup, opening with Argentina box office success and surefire crowdpleaser MY FIRST WEDDING, about one couple’s hilariously disastrous “Big Day,” starring Daniel Handler and Natalia Oreiro. This year’s series is proud to present Argentina’s official Oscar submission for Best Foreign-Language Film, Fernando Spiner’s Western throwback to the brutal glories of Peckinpah and Hill, ABALLAY! Many Los Angeles premieres are also in store: Santiago Mitre’s THE STUDENT, about a young man (Esteban Lamothe) who gets in over his head with campus politics; Miguel Cohan’s critically lauded NO RETURN, about the unpredictable aftermath of a hit-and-run; and Sergio Teubal’s THE FINGER, starring Gabriel Goity as a wolfish politician running for councilor against his ex-opponent’s amputated digit. In-person guests joining us for this series include directors Ariel Winograd (MY FIRST WEDDING), Fernando Spiner (ABALLAY), and Sergio Teubal (THE FINGER).
All films are in Spanish with English subtitles. Series compiled by Belén García Alcat and Pablo Maseda, with the assistance of Gwen Deglise. Program notes by Beth Hanna. Co-presented by the Consulate General and Promotion Center of the Argentine Republic in Los Angeles. Sponsored by LAN Airlines, Wines of Argentina and W Hollywood
Egyptian Theatre • Thu, November 17 – Sat, November 19
Thu, November 17 – 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre
Opening Night With Reception! Director Ariel Winograd In Person!
Special guests of the Argentina New Cinema series will be introduced at 7:30 PM. At 8:00 PM, the film will screen. Discussion following the film with director Ariel Winograd. Reception following in the courtyard for ticket holders.
MY FIRST WEDDING (MI PRIMERA BODA)- Los Angeles Premiere!
2011, 102 min, Argentina, Dir: Ariel Winograd
Jewish-born but now secular Adrián (Daniel Hendler’ “Chessehead”) and Catholic-born but now quasi-secular Leonora (Natalia Oreiro- “Cleopatra”) have finally reached their wedding day. Instead of gracefully embracing matrimony, Adrián spends the hours leading up to the ceremony trying to postpone it, not because he’s got cold feet (or does he?), but because he’s clumsily lost both his and his bride-to-be’s sacred wedding rings. Disaster ensues in director Ariel Winograd’s winning comedy about the politics of the proverbial “Big Day.” A box-office success in Argentina! In Spanish with English subtitles.
Fri, November 18 – 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre
Los Angeles Premieres! Director Fernando Spiner In Person!
ABALLAY
Argentina’s Official Oscar Submission!
2011, 100 min, Argentina, Dir: Fernando Spiner
Gaucho Aballay (Pablo Cedrón) brutally kills a man during a routine highway hold-up. When he sees the shattered and terrified look on the face of the murdered man’s young son, Julián, hidden during the attack, Aballay resolves to change his criminal ways. Ten years later, the gaucho has become a mysterious local saint, forever mounted on a horse as penance for his earlier deeds. A grown-up Julián (Nazareno Casero) materializes in town seeking revenge for his father’s death, with pictures sketched from his memory of the murderous culprits. Julián’s relationship with his father’s murderer becomes more complex than he bargained for when predatory psychopath El Muerto (Claudio Rissi) forces him to seek Aballay’s protection. “An homage to both Argentina’s gaucho culture and the brutal oaters of Sam Peckinpah and Walter Hill, ABALLAY is 
raw, surreal and memorable… broodingly intense, fierce and visually dazzling… Helmer Fernando Spiner brilliantly makes his point about the violence that underpins both Argentinean and American popular culture. ” – Variety. In Spanish with English subtitles.
NO RETURN (SIN RETORNO)
2010, 104 min, Argentina, Dir: Miguel Cohan
After narrowly escaping being run over by a ventriloquist, Pablo (Agustín Vasquez) is the victim of a hit-and-run by teenagers Matiás (Martín Slipak) and Chaucha (Felipe Villanueva). The bad situation spirals out of control as Matiás concocts a story that his car was stolen, meanwhile nervously hearing reports that Pablo has gone into a coma, and as Matiás’ father (Federico Luppi) inadvertently stirs up TV interest when he goes looking for witnesses to the falsely reported crime. In filmmaker Miguel Cohan’s debut feature from the producers of THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, the common cinematic trope of a pivotal car accident is given sensitive and intriguingly unpredictable treatment, resulting in a critically lauded, understated thriller. Nominated for six Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina Awards, and winner of Best First Work and Best Supporting Actor (Slipak). In Spanish with English subtitles.
RECOMENDED:
Produced by the team behind “the Secret Of Their Eyes”, Miguel Cohan’s low-key, wily thriller digs at the moral underpinnings of a traffic accident and it’s affects on the young perpetrator, the victim (in a coma), their families enflamed by the media. The film shared “the Golden Spike”best film award, with Abbas Kiarostami’s “Certified Copy.” at the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminici),2010
Discussion between films with director Sergio Teubal (THE FINGER).
Egyptian Theatre Sat, November 19 – 7:30pm
THE FINGER (EL DEDO)- Los Angeles Premiere!
2011, 93 min, Argentina, Dir: Sergio Teubal
Devilish would-be politician Don Hidalgo’s (Gabriel Goity) ambitions of being voted in as the local councilor are temporarily thwarted when his town’s 501 occupants (the necessary minimum for an election) are reduced to 500 after the murder of Hidalgo’s political opponent, Baldomero. Hidalgo persuades Baldomero’s brother not to sign the death certificate so that the election may proceed. When Baldomero’s amputated finger takes on a life of its own, fantastically pointing at things from inside its jar of formaldehyde and ultimately running opposite Hidalgo in the impending race for councilor, filmmaker Sergio Teubal’s hilarious satire proves its capacity for both belly laughs and observant political barbs. Official selection of the 2011 Guadalajara International Film Festival. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Global Films is distributing “El Dedo” stateside as part of it’s non- theatrical festival slate. Sergio Teubal’s low-key absurdist political satire, set in a village filled with charming locals and based on a true story was well-received critically in Argentina. Fernando Sokolowicz, one of the producers, produced the brilliant “Arcibel’s Game” (2003) DP shot Esteban Sapir’s extraordinary black and white silent “La antena” (2007)
THE STUDENT (EL ESTUDIANTE)
2011, 124 min, Argentina, Dir: Santiago Mitre
Roque (an excellent Esteban Lamothe) has left his provincial hometown for the University of Buenos Aires, a campus he finds overwhelmed with indecipherable slogans and students rallying for different political parties and causes. As he develops a crush on a cute teaching assistant (Romina Paula) trying to instigate reform, and befriends Professor Acevedo (Ricardo Felix), a veteran campus politician, Roque is lured into the school’s vibrantly seductive political realm (and away from his homework), and climbs the ranks as Acevedo’s campaign and event organizer. But political allegiances are not without a price, and Roque soon realizes the ruthless nature of some of his newfound friends and allies. Official selection of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and 2011 Locarno Film Festival. “A taut, incisive look at university wheeling and dealing.” –Variety. In Spanish with English subtitles.
First-time director Santiago Mitre, who scripted several films for Pablo Trapero (“Carancho” 2010, “Lion’s Den” (2008), has crafted an energized activist coming-of age. Esteban Lamothe’s performance, as cocksman Roque, the young man on the make, has received universal praise. Mitre balances inter generational dialectics ( including the older Peronist apologists) with Roque’s self serving manoevres in a verbally pyrotechnic, engaging portrait of campus politics.
American Cinematheque-Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028 Map
General Admission $11.00 (unless otherwise noted)
Cinematheque Members $7.00
Seniors 65+ and Students with valid ID $9.00
To watch trailers go to http://ww.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/argentina-new-cinema-2011