Tulio and Susana, uncle and niece, have spent most of their lives in a small piece of land that belongs to a wealthy local man. When the landowner's daughter decides to get married because of a sudden pregnancy, the man asks Tulio and Susana to vacate the ranch. Not having where to turn, they decide to go to Clara's who lives in Buenos Aires.
The trip to the capital turns to be a nightmare for Tulio and his niece Susana. He is not a well man; Tulio is confined to a wheelchair, although we are not told what is his problem. Susana, his niece has dedicated her life to taking care of his uncle. In contrast, Clara lives in splendor in a comfortable apartment in one of the best sections of Buenos Aires. She is shocked at first, but welcomes them, although a bit reluctantly.
The arrival only lasts one night. The primitive relatives from the country want to keep their traditions and customs, something that shocks Clara. Their habits do not change in the new environment, which seems a bit amazing. Clara has left her humble origins to make something out of herself and now she is cruelly reminded of the place she came from. To make matters worse, both Tulio and Susana have deep resentment against Clara for her negligence at the farm. It is clear the poor relatives will not remain with the well to do Clara for too long.
This Argentine film showed on cable recently. It is a strange film which might be considered a cross between a black comedy with a drama. Adapted from Julio Chavez's novel, and directed by Edi Flehner. The screenplay has the feeling of having been improvised by the cast, who are also given credit for the screenplay. It boggles one's mind to think there are still such backward people as Tulio and Susana in a country like Argentina. Poverty in the heartland is in such contrast with the new world, unknown to them, that proves too much for these naive souls facing a new situation which they are ill prepared to accept.
We thought the best thing in the film was Luz Palazon's Clara. She is a sophisticated woman whose past comes back to haunt her. Clara harbors guilty feelings for abandoning her roots in search for a better life. Leandro Castello and Mercedes Scapola, seen as Tulio and Susana complete the cast. Unfortunately, Tulio and Susana, in spite of the situation they find themselves in do not get the best from the viewer because their stubborn attitude to remain in the past, which would have been better served getting Clara's support for keeping the land and their old lives in the country.
The trip to the capital turns to be a nightmare for Tulio and his niece Susana. He is not a well man; Tulio is confined to a wheelchair, although we are not told what is his problem. Susana, his niece has dedicated her life to taking care of his uncle. In contrast, Clara lives in splendor in a comfortable apartment in one of the best sections of Buenos Aires. She is shocked at first, but welcomes them, although a bit reluctantly.
The arrival only lasts one night. The primitive relatives from the country want to keep their traditions and customs, something that shocks Clara. Their habits do not change in the new environment, which seems a bit amazing. Clara has left her humble origins to make something out of herself and now she is cruelly reminded of the place she came from. To make matters worse, both Tulio and Susana have deep resentment against Clara for her negligence at the farm. It is clear the poor relatives will not remain with the well to do Clara for too long.
This Argentine film showed on cable recently. It is a strange film which might be considered a cross between a black comedy with a drama. Adapted from Julio Chavez's novel, and directed by Edi Flehner. The screenplay has the feeling of having been improvised by the cast, who are also given credit for the screenplay. It boggles one's mind to think there are still such backward people as Tulio and Susana in a country like Argentina. Poverty in the heartland is in such contrast with the new world, unknown to them, that proves too much for these naive souls facing a new situation which they are ill prepared to accept.
We thought the best thing in the film was Luz Palazon's Clara. She is a sophisticated woman whose past comes back to haunt her. Clara harbors guilty feelings for abandoning her roots in search for a better life. Leandro Castello and Mercedes Scapola, seen as Tulio and Susana complete the cast. Unfortunately, Tulio and Susana, in spite of the situation they find themselves in do not get the best from the viewer because their stubborn attitude to remain in the past, which would have been better served getting Clara's support for keeping the land and their old lives in the country.