Five of My Favorite Argentine Films
Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens)
The perfect primer that teaches you all you need to know about la viveza criolla, Argentine cunning and a knack for always seeking an advantage, no matter the means necessary. Also, it features a young(er) Ricardo Darín, which is reason enough for me.
Cuando Acecha la Maldad (When Evil Lurks)
I typically can’t do horror films, simply because I’m a huge giant weenie scaredy cat. This one is a slow burn, instilling such a sense of unease that it doesn’t need to rely on over-the-top gore or violence to make its point.
La Ciénaga (The Swamp)
All hail director Lucrecia Martel. One of the first Argentine movies I ever saw, La Ciénaga has this languid and sultry if not stagnant pace where everything moves like honey. It creates an expectant atmosphere that perfectly underscores the theme of domestic decay. No notes!
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes)
Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned murder mystery, ripe with suspense? There’s a reason this film won the Oscar; it’s a mesmerizing journey between past and present. Also, Ricardo Darín. Need I say more?
Un Novio para Mi Mujer (A Boyfriend for My Wife)
Ok, this one might lack critical prestige, but I don’t care. Most of Adrián Suar’s work is deeply derivative and one-dimensional, but this film stands up if only because it gave us la Tana Ferro, one of my favorite characters of all time.
