Homo Argentum

After reading so many absurdly negative reviews, I decided to go to the theater to see for myself if they were right or wrong.

The film is divided into 16 small stories, a format different from the conventional and that gave it freshness.

Some of these mini-movies are pretty bad, especially the shorter ones.

Some others are very good, either for being funny or for making us think about some things that we as Argentines have a complex about.

Guillermo Francella is fantastic, he managed to embody each of the characters perfectly.

The only thing I really didn't like was the way they showed brands, I remember OnCity, SoloDeportes, Mostaza among others. Very forced and not very organic.

Beyond that, it's a fun movie to spend time with the family.

Guillermo Francella proves once again why he is the most accomplished Argentine actor today. Versatile, genuine, and absolutely convincing, he has the rare ability to move you, anger you, or inspire empathy with the same intensity. His immense talent elevates this collection of short stories that, blending irony with realism, paint a fascinating portrait of the average Argentine in different situations and social contexts.

A work that stands as a true gem of Argentine cinema-entertaining, powerful, and memorable in its own right.

I just got out of the theater and decided to write a review while the movie is still fresh in my mind. This will be mostly spoiler-free: more of a general impression than a detailed plot breakdown.

First, a clarification: given the controversy surrounding the release of this film, it's very hard to give a completely objective opinion that isn't influenced by all the noise around it. I'm not pretending my take is totally detached from that, but after reading many other reviews, I feel like at least I'll try to be as fair as possible -something I can't really say about most of the reviews I've seen so far.

Since I first heard this movie was coming out, I already planned to watch it. I've liked Francella since I was a kid, and lately he's done some pretty cool stuff. But when I saw all the controversy (mainly from over-ideologized critics and actors), it made me want to see it even more, just to check for myself. Partly because I honestly can't stand critics in general, and their self-imposed role as "taste police": at best, they act like pretentious snobs; at worst, they judge based on personal artistic, philosophical, or even political ideologies.

That said: I liked the movie. It's nowhere near a 10, like some people rated it, but it's definitely not a 1 either. I'm sure both extremes are more about outside motivations than about the movie itself (though I can understand the 1s a bit more, since maybe it's just not their type of film). In my honest and subjective opinion, it's far from being one of the greats of Argentine cinema (Nine Queens, Wild Tales, The Secret in Their Eyes). But I don't think it ever aimed that high, and that's perfectly fine. On the other hand, it entertained me and made me laugh way more than 90% of Argentine films I've watched -which, to be fair, isn't a very high bar.

The comparison with Wild Tales, as the most famous Argentine anthology film, is inevitable. And no, it doesn't come close. But again: that doesn't seem to be the goal here. This movie is less ambitious, much more random. It reminded me a bit of Poné a Francella, where the actor jumps from role to role with no real storyline other than pure entertainment.

As for the shorts themselves, they're inconsistent: some are good, some weak, some feel like they're just there to fill time, and others are clearly meant to spark controversy. Don't expect to walk out of the theater with an epiphany or deep reflections; this is a movie that simply wants to entertain.

Regarding all the debate about whether the film "represents Argentines" or not, let's not overthink it. I don't believe that's the intention. It's more of a satire of our idiosyncrasies -sometimes flattering, sometimes critical- but it never tries to portray Argentines as a whole. Again, it's just a movie to have a laugh at situations that could easily happen in our country. It's not meant to be a sociological portrait of the "average Argentine."

What I did find refreshing is seeing an Argentine movie without that moralizing agenda, the kind that tries to deliver a "big life lesson" nobody asked for. Don't get me wrong: many shorts do have a strong and clear message, but since each one varies so much, the film as a whole doesn't really feel like it's trying to say anything in particular. It's more a chain of random situations: some longer, some shorter, some with clear intention, others that just seem to be there.

Randomness seems to be the only real constant: in ideology, in quality, in genre... in everything. And the only true thread tying it all together is Francella doing what he does best: being Francella.

If you're looking for a movie that will blow your mind, don't bother. But if you want something that -as long as you don't go in already angry- will entertain you for a while, I'd say give it a shot. I gave it a 7 because, to me, the main purpose of a movie is to entertain. And in my case, it delivered: I had a great time and laughed almost the whole way through.

Pure and genuine argentinean movie. Well filmed and performed. Hilarious and smart. A gem of film-making industry. No goverment involved!!! Guillermo Feancella is a real Camaleonic actor, changing so much between characters. He represents how the argetineans are. Amazed!!! I need to see it again and again.

As an Argentine, I dare say it's undoubtedly a caricature of some characters or similar ones that exist in our society, and perhaps in some form in other countries as well. Just as The Simpsons is a blatant critique of American society, this is a blatant critique of Argentine society, and some people who believe that criticizing one's own is offensive find it offensive and disgusting, and worse. They can do whatever they want. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.