Proper Eyes

The story takes place mostly in a prison and its environs in Córdoba, capital of the Argentine province of the same name, 700 km northwest of Buenos Aires. Two friends in their early twenties, Alicia and Virginia are working on a documentary on the wives of the prison inmates under the usual difficulties; some of the women don't want to testify in front of the camera, and some that do have ulterior motives.

Besides the documentary itself we witness the filming itself; the camera is frequently in view and we see the two friends plan their interviews. The project may be a graduation thesis but its first screening is in a classroom in CEPROCOR (Center of Excellence in Products and Processes of Cordoba) which suggests it may have originated as a study on the situation in jails regarding the inmates and their visitors. At the end, the assignment takes an unexpected turn and shows the difficulties of interacting with relative strangers according to a preconceived program.

Whatever this film is (documetry, reenactement, semidocumentary) it keeps your attention for the duration. If there is a point made, probably is that reality is affected by the presence of an observer. Worth watching.