Sidewalls

In an effort to learn Spanish, I've been watching a lot of Spanish- language movies, and not worrying too much about the quality. It was nice, finally, to watch one that is quite well done. This little Argentinean, romantic comedy is philosophical, charming, and visually beautiful.

Martin (Javier Drolas), an agoraphobic website designer and Mariana (Pilar Lopez de Ayala), an underemployed architect, live on the same street in Buenos Aires. Both are depressed and lonely. As both go through a series of futile dates, we come to see that they would be perfect for each other, but of course, the odds of the two of them meeting in such a huge city are not good. The city has ways of putting up barriers between people, and the theme of the film is that successfully making a life in such a place requires physically and mentally breaking through those barriers.

Meanwhile, the camera lingers on the skyline and the individual buildings of Buenos Aires, gray and inhuman. The variety of buildings is endless, and many have blank, windowless sidewalls, called medianeras. These blank spaces are used for billboards, an ugly alternative to what could have been light-bringing windows, and many apartment- dwellers rebel by chipping through the concrete to place unauthorized windows.

Despite the urban philosophizing and beautiful cinematography, "Medianeras" does not demand to be taken too seriously. It's a fun, optimistic, romantic comedy which declares that, as one of the songs in the film puts it, "true love will find you in the end." Amen to that.

Two young adults live lonely, isolated existences in modern Buenos Aires and repeatedly fail to meet each other despite living on either sides of a street.

Javier Drolas is a web designer living in a cluttered, one room apartment. He doesn't like to go outside and only does for his therapy appointments and to walk the dog his American girlfriend left with him when she returned home for a visit and never came back. He has a brief sexual relationship with a young, emo dog walker, but it's not very satisfying.

Pilar López de Ayala is a young architect working as a window dresser. She has a series of unsatisfying relationships and is happier relating to the mannequins she keeps in her apartment.

The film teases several meetings between these two, but along the way, muses on life in modern Buenos Aires, a city that has grown so fast that it's a mishmash of haphazard architectural styles and most people live in tiny apartments in giant high rises. The growth of online relationships and slow death of personal, physical ones is killing the romantic lives of young people like our protagonists.

It's a very slight, but quite engaging film. You never doubt that a film with this light a tone will end with these two meeting, but it's a pleasant journey. Gustavo Taretto telescopes his indebtedness to Woody Allen by having our protagonists both watching the climax of "Manhattan". This film is more like "Annie Hall" with a steady narration by both leads and a blend of many styles ... animation, on screen graphics and many other gimmicks are dropped in.

The movie "Sidewalls" is very different from the movies I usually watch and to be completely honest I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I thought it portrayed real life very accurately; real like is sometimes slow and a bit dull. In real life you go through conflicts caused by others or sometimes the conflicts are within; depression, anxiety, insomnia, loneliness, etc, and I think "Sidewalls" showed that. I would prefer if the movie was in English, mainly because I focused on the dialogue and didn't see some of the detail that was put into a couple shots. However, I thought "Sidewalls" was filmed very well; I personally really like it in movies when there is a voice over with shots that complement what is being said and this movie did that multiple times. I really liked how the two main characters went to the same places, were connected in several ways (the chair, the crosswalk, etc), but they never met until the end of the movie. I think the director wanted this movie to accurately portray reality: mental health issues controlling certain people's lives, how the internet is ruining face to face communication, but can also bring people together, and how everyone, at one time in their life, will feel completely and utterly alone. I think this movie can be directed towards a wide variety; mainly teens-adults. I definitely don't think this movie is appropriate for children because of some of the content and I don't think most elders would like this movie, but besides that I think this movie is targeted to most ages. I think that "Sidewalls" was a movie; it did have some things you could learn from and say was "educationally", but I do think it is more for pleasure. Overall, I do think "Sidewalls" was a good movie; I would suggest it to a friend and may even watch it again myself.

As soon as the movie began, I was hooked. The gorgeous shots of the buildings of Buenos Aires had my eyes glued to screen. As the story began, I was welcomed into the lives of Martin and Mariana, two people living in isolation from the big crowded world just outside their door. With the comforting mood of the movie, I felt as though I was there with them, living a peaceful and quiet existence, completely cut off from the busy and fast paced world surrounding me. It was nice. I felt relaxed and at ease as I watched the two characters struggle with relationships, phobias, and just life in general. If I were to use one word to describe this movie, it would be beautiful, but not just because of the gorgeous cinematography. I thought the movie was beautiful because it was real. It told a story about two imperfect characters living imperfect lives in their imperfect homes because that's what life is, imperfectly beautiful.

Medianeras, directed and written by Gustavo Taretto, is an Argentine romantic dramedy that explores loneliness, disconnection, and urban life in Buenos Aires. Through the parallel stories of Martín (Javier Drolas) and Mariana (Pilar López de Ayala), the film reflects on the search for love and human connection in an environment that, paradoxically, seems designed to make them harder to find.

One of the film's central themes is loneliness in the metropolis, where high population density contrasts with emotional disconnection. Martín and Mariana live in nearby buildings but have never met, illustrating how architecture, technology, and the fast-paced nature of the city contribute to isolation. The dependence on technology for communication is a recurring theme: Martín is immersed in a virtual world, highlighting how modern technology can serve as both a bridge and a barrier in personal relationships.

The film makes poetic use of Buenos Aires' architecture, not just as a setting but as another character. The city's symmetry and verticality are reflected in the visual style, with shots that play with the asymmetry of the protagonists' lives. Images of windows, crowded streets, and structures that separate rather than unite symbolize the physical and emotional barriers that prevent human connection. Additionally, the soft color palette and carefully composed cinematography enhance the film's melancholic yet beautiful aesthetic.

Taretto also raises important questions about how modern architecture and technology impact our lives and relationships. The use of voiceover to comment on these themes is well-executed, offering an intimate and poetic reflection that complements the visual storytelling.

Ultimately, Medianeras is a film that sensitively and humorously captures contemporary loneliness, exploring the longing for connection in an increasingly fragmented world.