Magic Farm

What on earth makes this recorded mumblings a film? I have been watching this for an hour now and I still don't know why I'm watching it. Where is the motivation, drive, dramatic arc or anything that makes a film a film? Weird is the last resort for the contemporary wannabe and it still does not suffice. High saturation doesn't make things interesting, nor the actors with physical disadvantage. This is not even weird or unconventional actually. It's just nothing and waste of time.

The director is lucky to have dragged Sevigny into the project who is growing irrelevant by the minute and wants to decorate herself with something "arty". The rest of the cast is just happy to be in ANY film, as it seems and they are having this excursion and doing nothing at all - not even that, actually.

5.8 rating is incredibly overrated.

As of 7th June 2025, this film has a 5.8 score, from 242 ratings. What this tells you is, firstly: not enough people seem to have seen this film, and secondly: most of the ones that have wouldn't recognise a great movie if it slapped them in the face!

Evaluation of art, philosophy of aesthetics and all that - I'm not going down that road, but I gave Magic Farm a 10*; because I enjoyed it so much, and because it blatantly deserves a much higher rating than it currently has.

Great visuals, grading, tastefully experimental cinematography, opening credits, props, wardrobe, location, sets etc.

Tastefully experimental and appropriate soundtrack.

Interesting and loveable characters, portrayed with some perfect acting performances.

Easy going, lovely poised plot; leaving room to ponder between the lines.

I watch a lot of movies, and have done over several decades. I rarely rate or review. I've taken a little time here because Amalia and the rest of the crew deserve much more credit for this triumphant piece. Well done, and thank you! 🙌

First of all, let's talk about the camerawork. Innovative isn't quite enough. This might be revolutionary. A lot of the camera placement has been completely unused in a feature film to my knowledge. The start of a new age. This is like Godard level when it come to evolution of filmmaking. That 360 cam used at the beginning is just the start. The chosen lenses were so intentional. They also put cameras on dogs. There are other films that feature filming via drones, smart phones, Go-Pros, what have you. This film utilizes some of these new methods but lacks all corniness. It's just done perfectly.

That's not even to mention the editing/transitions, which fall under the same descriptors. Also, the color palette shown in every shot is just gorgeous. I'm not deaf but deaf people might could fully understand the plot based off the visuals with no subs, that's just how well this is done. Check me if I'm out of pocket.

Then we get to the substance of the film. The idea of white liberals going to another country to find something "interesting" to document for the entertainment of other white people. They meet a number of vastly interesting people, and decide that none of them are quite good (American popular internet culture) enough. A constant displeasure of a perceived lesser culture. Wonderfully displayed. So much more to say about what happens in this film, but a lot of it just comes off as a great story.

Funny line: "Why do you speak English so well?" "Why do you speak Spanish so bad?"

Very cool to see Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff, and Simon Rex all utilized in the same film. I believe they are underrated. I hope that Guillermo Jacubowicz gets parts in 100 films from this, he is fantastic in his role.

This is like God's-eye-view filmmaking.

They gotta give Amalia Ulman a dillion dollars to make whatever other films she has ideas about. I'm completely sold. I'm watching El Planeta tomorrow. Thank you for making me so excited about the future of film.

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

I can imagine tons of people will hate this movie because from my screening, viewers around seemed really unimpressed. However, for myself, a strange bizarre satire comedy are genres I enjoy and this piece is weird, but the physical comedy elements, weird style and atmosphere and direction provides a weird journey that is quite interesting.

The director clearly understands the deadpan and non-serious tones that are explored throughout the story. Providing some interesting dynamics of the characters, the narrative and tone. Although I do admit the characters are a bit thin and some dialogue does feel like something from a bad VICE Media article, it's strangeness still was enjoyable to observe.

The performances are all solid though I wasn't really wowed by most of the acting. There are some good musical tracks and color presentations. I did found some of the comedic elements to be a bit on the nose and it didn't really seemed to be at its peak.

Overall, it isn't going to work for everyone but I enjoyed it.

This film really hits a vibe I haven't seen or felt in a long time. It captures the Argentina heart and adventure very well. For me it feels like the exact few trips I went on there myself. Beautiful people and a beautiful story- a movie I can actually sit through in one viewing. Most movies of this caliber these days I can't watch through in one viewing. Especially ones that are "mainstream". This one I can. This one is special in all the right ways to the right kind of people. I think everyone can relate to that in some way. It's truly a diamond in the rough.

Acting 10/10 Original Screenplay 10/10 Cinematography 10/10.