Between Sidewalls

Many times, Latin American films are undervalued. In a landscape where blockbusters, remakes, and multimillion-dollar superhero sagas are what the public demands the most, Latin American cinema is not the top choice for consumption. Although recent times have seen standout films like “Roma”, "The Settlers" and "The secret in their eyes" it is very difficult for a film to attract attention.

I must admit, I was one of those people who had a certain point of view regarding Latin American cinema, especially Argentine cinema. There were aspects that didn't quite convince me; the productions seemed almost all very repetitive, and considering they didn’t have the budgets of other countries, many times they seemed "weak," despite Argentina's cinematic treasures like "Wild Tales" or "Camila."

I felt that no work truly captured what it was like to live in a country like Argentina; no one managed to portray the beauty and the hectic and complicated life of an Argentine in times like this, mostly in the last twenty years.

However, there is one film that changed my perception of Argentine cinema.

Sidewalls2011

"Sidewalls" is a 2011 film directed by Gustavo Taretto and starring Javier Drolas and Pilar López de Ayala. Two actors mostly known for theaters carrers. Acclaimed among independent film enthusiasts and rediscovered by the new generation of film buffs, "Sidewalls" is a film for everyone, yet uniquely for Argentinians. The synopsis is as follows:

Mariana and Martín live in the same block in different buildings; however, although their paths cross, they never meet. Martín designs websites. Mariana is an architect but works as a window dresser. Besides recent disappointments, they have much in common. 

With a linear narration but alternating narrators, Martín and Mariana perfectly and accurately reflect, often with a very millennial humor, what it is like to live in a country where a fracture is not only social but literally architectural and has been there long in the country. It represents very well the atmosphere of living in Buenos Aires. The loneliness and alienation of the city's residents prevent paths from crossing in an organic way. Everything often seems forced and even difficult in the great "city of fury."

This film subtly and effortlessly reflects these concepts, and personally, I feel it was the first time I have seen a correct representation of Buenos Aires. European nostalgia and Latin American economic issues are very well transposed in this film, achieving a sense of belonging that not many films are able to put out there.

The photography is beautiful, and the story is well-constructed. It doesn't seek reflection from the viewers, even though the dialogues can be profound. It is funny but not a comedy. It is romantic but not a love story.

I must admit that this film changed my perspective on Argentine films. I genuinely feel it is a breath of fresh air to stories that are often repetitive in Argentine cinema. With excellent performances, it is a memorable film that managed to change the foundations of independent cinema with dialogues that stick to me all this time.