La ciénaga

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Vítor Pimentel de Oliveira V It is more about the sensation it conveys than a plot per se. No problem about that. The thing is, it's difficult to get this kind of immersion when what's happening on the screen it's not really that interesting. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Taylor L Someone needs to answer the phone. A dense, multigenerational odyssey about people sitting by the decrepit pool and generally killing time. Okay, maybe not an odyssey, but still an interesting portrait of a family told through sensations and yearning. There's not necessarily a uniform plot or goal, but we do get insights into the ambitions of each through a series of small moments, with more stream-of-consciousness than conventional structure. There aren't necessarily full arcs, but instead a host of simmering conflicts and deep-seated issues that come to the forefront when too many people are forced into close quarters. On one side, there are the elderly - desperately clinging onto what they have, preserving the remains of their former selves and compensating for the inevitable march of time with heavy drinking; Graciela Borges' Mecha flings her anger at the world back onto those around her, alone in her suffering despite being surrounded by people. Alongside the slowly dying, we find the next generation, tentatively exploring their world and themselves. But they're united with the elderly in their environment - the swamp - which imparts the sensation of being stuck and miserable; the compound is haunted by a pervasive sense of dread (the perpetually-coming rain that never starts) that lingers over the old in their last years of vibrancy and the young in their poisoned promise of something more substantial. Being idle is apparently better than thrashing while sinking faster. Definitely a slow burn and more of a mood piece than a standard narrative, but brimming with character detail. Hope you like a sense of general dread. (4/5) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review dave s La Cienaga has no linear plot to speak of, relying more on a sort of collective stream of consciousness style to get its message across – time seems blurred, the relationships between characters are often unclear, the scenes themselves often have little or no relationship to each other. And despite all of this, Argentine director Lucrecia Martel's debut is surprisingly rewarding for the patient and attentive viewer. Set in northern Argentina close to the Bolivian border, the film follows the interaction between family members at a rundown summer estate as they navigate their way through an oppressively hot summer. The movie exposes the fragility of family dynamics and manages to touch on a variety of themes, including perceived privilege and racism. It can be frustrating and disorienting at times based on its structure, but remains an interesting insight into a deeply flawed family. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Directed with Lucereia Martel's eye to the detail, she gives us a well-acted and honest film where anything happens but everything is about to explode. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review s r The whole thing was sad, showing the incivility that is possible and how things just don't always go well or are complicated. It made me anxious in anticipation of what would happen and frustrated with the parents. Saw it on TCM. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I love all the ways this film subverts expectations. As with Martel's other films, the cinematography and sound design are idiosyncratic but effective. It's best to let it wash over you without trying to immediately pull meaning out of what you are seeing and hearing. Meaning will emerge. You have to trust it. There's not much to say about the plot. It's kind of like L'Avventura -- bourgeois ennui – but with a lot more accidents, bedrooms and strange humor. It's oddly sensual as well, like a tease. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews

La ciénaga

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