Ariel

Ariel is a compelling story that needs to be told. Social justice against the backcloth of the allure of tango. Sibling relationships and the complexity of family ties. The role of multi-national corporations in the dirtier side of the government and dictatorship in Argentina. The juxtaposition of snowy cold Toronto and steamy Buenos Aires (and Montevideo, Uruguay ). The movie is captivating and engaging and the cinematography expansive. Allison has paid attention to all the details necessary to tie this story together. Very good job - a pandemic movie that defies the odds and comes out on top!

Finally available in Canada on AppleTV. Alison Murray, the movie director, writer and the producer, takes you to hot Buenos Aires. The story of two siblings from Toronto traveling to Buenos to visit the city which their parents are from. The family left Argentina in the 70's and never went back, never talked about it! But Didi and Dave, now in their 30's, want to know more. However there is a price for the truth. Was it worth it ? Heck , yes!!! Emotional history lesson wrapped up in so much beautiful tango music! Fun to watch when one recognizes the streets one walked and the milongas one danced at.

Ariel is a beautiful, moving film about family, the history of a country, and the power of dance. The film is beautifully shot and features great performances. I highly recommend it, specially being from Argentina myself.

Here are some specific things I liked about the movie:

The cinematography and camera work was stunning.

The performances by the cast were all great.

The dance scenes were incredibly well-choreographed.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ariel. It's a beautiful, moving, and well-made film. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves family dramas, dance movies, or movies about Argentina.

Director Alison Murray is to be lauded for highlighting the horrors wrought by the brutal military dictatorship in Argentina from 1976 to 1983. Tragically, to this day, the impact of the dictatorship continues to reverberate for families. Outside of Argentina, too few know about this period in the country's past. It is important to those impacted that the story is not lost over time. The Director relates the story with sensitivity, relationships are layered and the culture of tango which provides the backdrop for much the story feels gritty and authentic. For anyone who has ever visited Buenos Aires, the film creates a sense of revisiting the city. The cinematography and musical score are beautiful.

I really enjoyed this stylish film about family and tango. Director Alison Murray and her team have crafted a moving tale about the reverberations of Argentina's dirty war of the 70's and 80's for the generations that followed.

Canadians Davie and his sister Diana are both a mess, each in their own way. On their first trip to Buenos Aires, city of their birth, the pair discovers tango culture in all its sensual glory, and, eventually, some dark and shocking family secrets.

While the human action veers into melodrama on occasion, tango is such an apt metaphor for navigating the bumps and challenges of life, and the imperative to follow your heart and just keep dancing. Scenes set in the city's milongas (e.g. La Glorieta) are some of the best in the film, with social details, distinctive music and the swirling movement of tango all lovingly captured. I was also moved by the spotlight Murray shines on the Abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo and the work they are doing to find and help the lost children of Argentina's disappeared. Family, tango - such a rich mix in the hands of this director.