Blondi

This wonderfully intimate film is crafted in a way that tricks you into thinking that you've figured it out, only to disarm you and make you feel a blast of emotions as genuine as the characters and the story. And genuine they are. The movie is cleverly paced, the characters (2 generations of women, their infamous son in law and their children, most importantly Mirko) are living and breathing three dimensional human beings, every phrase believable and recognizable without being corny, and the emotional climax you're being driven towards is so organic that not a trace of manipulation is there. Dolores Fonzi does an excellent job as a director and writer, as she does as an actor (less of a surprise considering her career path so far), the storytelling is subtle and stylish, with a touch of humor and avoiding the clichés, navigating you through a piece that could be filled with them.

It's a slice of life story, a coming of age story, a mother-son story, a sister-sister story, and a few more - somewhat defying the conventions of those relationships on the way. I was ready to dislike the "hippie-ish" seemingly refusing to mature mother, and yet there was something beyond that surface that Ms. Fonzi was hinting at, not giving away, and somehow emanating - that kept me wondering. And just when I thought I'd figured it all out - she broke my heart in most satisfying climactic scenes and a life-affirming denouement and ending. Blondi was a picture that for me has turned out to be so much more than "another Argentinian dramedy". Great cast, really good story well told and food for thought. Recommended. I hope we'll see more from Dolores Fonzi the director in the years to come.