watch
El Aura (Fabian Bielinsky) Ricardo Darin, Dolores Fonzi. 2005
Released after writer/director Bielinsky’s untimely death, El Aura is a masterful slow-burn heist thriller set in a lonesome looking Patagonia. Darin’s socially awkward epileptic taxidermist is no mug and dreams of one day pulling off the perfect bank robbery before a somewhat incredible sequence of events gives him the chance to do just that. A refusal to spell plot points out for its audience and ambiguous moral tone give Aura its distinctly Latin American flavour. Meanwhile, Bielinsky’s willingness to allow major set pieces to unfold practically off camera echoes the Coen brothers. Or were the Coen brothers echoing Bielinsky? Riveting stuff. 4/5
stream @: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvXFjNxlQz0
Nine Queens (Bielinsky) Darin, Gaston Pauls. 2000
Bielinsky’s debut about a pair of con-men on the streets of Buenos Aires is a much loved classic. Lacks the nuance of Aura and contains a final reveal that robs the plot of some credibility when re-watching. Still, this raucous tale of a pair of grifters whose ambitions mirror that of their society hits all the right notes stylistically and the interplay between the two leads is a delight. 4/5
stream @: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJgP0x_fZrs
Black Snow (Martin Hodara) Leonardo Sbaraglia, Darin, Fonzi. 2016.
Some Argentine thrillers take place in the inhospitable wilderness, others prefer the hustle and bustle of the big city. Some offer subtle mediation about the society they exist in whilst others serve up whizz bang thrills and little else. The one constant it seems, is Ricardo Darin in a lead role. His reliably gruff features are used to good effect here as a pair of brothers attempt to settle a decades old dispute with the bleak but beautiful Patagonian mountains as an atmospheric backdrop. It’s good fun with a suitably twisted twist but the whole thing falls apart under any kind of scrutiny quicker than a game of drunken Jenga. 2.5/5
stream @: https://www.netflix.com/title/80184770
read
The Tunnel, Ernesto Sabato, 1948
With his first novel Sabato appeared to take aim at the emotional insecurity and pomposity of the intellectual classes. The tortured artist in the big city navigates his way through the titular passageway avoiding as much as possible all those he deems inferior (read everyone.) When a beautiful stranger is spotted gazing longingly at one of his more complex works, a kindred spirit is assumed. The pursuit, capture and ultimate destruction of love is at the core of Sabato’s lean debut. Whilst there is no review in circulation that fails to mention that The Tunnel drew praise from Camus upon its release, (damn it!) the name-checking of a more celebrated author does Sabato a disservice. Predating the Latin American boom, 70 years on this haunting, darkly humorous tale reads as fresh as a daisy.
Penguin’s 2011 edition contains a foreword by respected Irish novelist Colm Toibin.
2nd hand copy picked up at Sappho books, Glebe Point Rd, $10.
listen
Alma y vida
70’s rockers with a background in jazz released several albums of consistent quality throughout the decade. At times cloying vocals are generally overpowered by fat guitar riffs and triumphant horns as the ensemble’s funky musicianship steadies the ship when things lurch toward melodrama. Their third album ‘del gamido de un gorrion’ (rough translation: the groan of the sparrow!) gets mentioned as a high water mark and is indeed an enjoyable listen with several highlights emerging as it enters its home stretch. However, it was the group’s folksy debut single ‘nino de colour carino‘ and the Welcome Back Kotter-esque ‘hoy te queremos cantor‘ that this casual listener had on heavy rotation.
Alma y Vida’s albums are available for download on Spotify.
eat and drink
Porteno, 50 Holt St Surry Hills.
Gambas con Polenta
Tira de Asado
Argentine Pinot Grigot, Quilmes beer, Fernet on ice.
Having recently relocated from busy Cleveland St to back street Surry Hills, Porteno retains its uptown swagger. Accept two things: that you won’t get away for under $80 and that you may need a piece of toast when you get home before bed. Sure it’s a luxury, but as a bit of a treat Porteno is, well, a bit of a treat. Exemplary customer service and an authentic ambience drop you in the swankiest 1950’s diner imaginable. Mouths will water as the Asado rotates in its metal cage above an open flame. Drop the pretence and order this as your main. You can still taste the ocean when you dive into the gambas with polenta and if you really want to do like the Argentines do, order a Fernet on ice to cap it all off. Sure it’ll remind you of mouth wash at first sip but it steadily grows on you. You might not be back in a hurry, but Porteno is a dining experience that apart from the fairly prohibitive cost, is pretty hard to be disappointed with.
goal of the month
When Mauro Icardi isn’t good enough to get a run out for the national team (or make the squad for that matter) it’s safe to assume your country takes its footy seriously. Here’s Los Albicelestes 9th choice striker slamming in a glorious volley for Inter against Tottenham in the Champions League opener.
competing elsewhere
Juan Del Potro blazes his way to the US open final beating Rafa Nadal along the way before finding Novak Djokovic too hot to handle. Is there anything these guys aren’t good at!?