Martín Rejtman's SILVIA PRIETO is considered as one of the landmark film of New Argentine Cinema. The film focuses on Silvia Prieto who discovers that she has a namesake. She develops a bizarre obsession with the "other" Silvia Prieto that involves unwinding the question of her own identity. The screenplay has been a pre-packaged film on text that simply needed actors to bring it to life. It gets it - and at the expense of the lightness and the transient nature of comedy, a handsome portrayal of human wisdom is emerging. The characters are extremely well drawn and there's no artifice to any of the performances. Everyone plays off each other with natural, spontaneous ease, and though some scenes go on far too long, the subtle dynamics between them keep one engaged. It ends on a sweetly satisfying note and is overall a classy effort acted with likeable style. Kind of reminded me a bit of an early Aki Kaurasmaki, Jacques Rivette, Jim Jarmusch, Eric Rohmer and Harry Kumel's The Arrival of Joachim Stiller (1976) - filled with some great dialogues that in some mysterious way stays interesting. A film which is a worthwhile rumination on matters of the heart. For the fans of Joe Swanberg, David Neves, Andrew Bujalski, Rikiya Imaizumi, Noah Baumabch, and Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit. Rest in Peace Rosario Bléfari.
6 Reviews
Lovely, slow, quiet and offbeat
waitingforgodot12 October 2019
A lovely film about late 20-somethings in late-90s Argentina. Though quite slow for the first 30mins, it then starts to feel utterly transportive, taking you to another place and time. The film is imbued with that lovely ambling 90s vibe, where someone putting on a fur coat can enthral, so past comparisons to Jarmusch or Kurasmaki films are definitely valid. B+
What's in a name?
jotix10010 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Silvia Prieto decides to change her life when she turns 27. She will start working as a waitress in a cafe, stop smoking marijuana and will buy a canary that really sings. She is determined to succeed. When her former husband Marcelo comes to see her, he hands her over a thousand dollars so that she can get by while she puts her life together. Silvia doesn't do things halfway. When she cooks chicken, she prepares at least four birds that she cuts into neat pieces and offer them to whoever happens to be near.
Marcelo runs into Brite, a pretty young woman seen at a corner distributing samples of detergent that also bears her name. When he asks for more than what she has given him already, she tells him she can't give him anymore. Marcelo, obviously feels attracted to her from the start.
When Silvia decides to take a week-end in Mar del Plata, she takes her canary. We see her sitting in an outdoor cafe. When an Italian tourist passes her table, he likes what he sees, so he decides to take a chance and sits next to her. It's windy, so he offers her his jacket, not before specifying it's an Armani. When she asks him for a cigarette, he offers to go and get some, and Silvia goes away with the man's jacket.
A few days later, Gabriel, an old school mate of Marcelo appears on the scene. He is an aspiring poet. Silvia offers him the Armani jacket, which in turn, he sells it to Marcelo. One day Silvia receives a strange phone call from the Italian tourist, who remembered her name and tells her there were only two Silvia Prietos in the phone book. This intrigues Silvia, who immediately calls the other, and she is not too nice to the woman. They eventually meet, but they have little in common.
This surprising film from Argentina deals with the new class of people living in the country. Martin Reijtman, the writer/director shows a talent for capturing the everyday situations in the film with perfect pitch. These people are not rich and they all are struggling to make ends meet in a tough economy. "Silvia Prieto" surprises in the way Mr. Reitjman incorporates the present situation of the country in the middle of everything.
The acting is good, in general. The ensemble cast of mainly young people gives us an impression they are these characters they are portraying. Liked Rosario Blefari, in the title role and Valeria Bertuccelli as Brita.
The film was presented by CUNY in their Cinematheque program. It shows a promising director, Martin Reijtman in a surprising movie that deals with all these disfranchised people living in the great city of Buenos Aries.
The film ends as several women, all Silvia Prieto, meet at the home of one of them to see what they have in common. We advise the viewer to stay tuned up to the end of the credits to see these women's view on their lives and society.
Marcelo runs into Brite, a pretty young woman seen at a corner distributing samples of detergent that also bears her name. When he asks for more than what she has given him already, she tells him she can't give him anymore. Marcelo, obviously feels attracted to her from the start.
When Silvia decides to take a week-end in Mar del Plata, she takes her canary. We see her sitting in an outdoor cafe. When an Italian tourist passes her table, he likes what he sees, so he decides to take a chance and sits next to her. It's windy, so he offers her his jacket, not before specifying it's an Armani. When she asks him for a cigarette, he offers to go and get some, and Silvia goes away with the man's jacket.
A few days later, Gabriel, an old school mate of Marcelo appears on the scene. He is an aspiring poet. Silvia offers him the Armani jacket, which in turn, he sells it to Marcelo. One day Silvia receives a strange phone call from the Italian tourist, who remembered her name and tells her there were only two Silvia Prietos in the phone book. This intrigues Silvia, who immediately calls the other, and she is not too nice to the woman. They eventually meet, but they have little in common.
This surprising film from Argentina deals with the new class of people living in the country. Martin Reijtman, the writer/director shows a talent for capturing the everyday situations in the film with perfect pitch. These people are not rich and they all are struggling to make ends meet in a tough economy. "Silvia Prieto" surprises in the way Mr. Reitjman incorporates the present situation of the country in the middle of everything.
The acting is good, in general. The ensemble cast of mainly young people gives us an impression they are these characters they are portraying. Liked Rosario Blefari, in the title role and Valeria Bertuccelli as Brita.
The film was presented by CUNY in their Cinematheque program. It shows a promising director, Martin Reijtman in a surprising movie that deals with all these disfranchised people living in the great city of Buenos Aries.
The film ends as several women, all Silvia Prieto, meet at the home of one of them to see what they have in common. We advise the viewer to stay tuned up to the end of the credits to see these women's view on their lives and society.
Drifting in a world cease to be meaningful
hkscar1 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I quite like the last bits where all Silvia Prieto's talking about their lives and dreams, a slice of Argentinian women's portrait.
The bit of changing names and also play her ex-wedding tape pretending to be TV program are also fun. Drifting to be someone else and trying to get rid of the past.
The bit of changing names and also play her ex-wedding tape pretending to be TV program are also fun. Drifting to be someone else and trying to get rid of the past.
Argentina meets reality
MarcoParzivalRocha11 April 2021
Silvia Prieto decides to change her whole life, and discovers that there's another woman with the same name as hers.
This Argentine film explores the lifestyle that took over a large part of that country's society at the beginning of the 21st century, where uncertainty and economic difficulties began to have an impact on the way people relate and deal with life.
Martín Rejtman intelligently manages to capture the audience's attention through moments and situations that are very down-to-earth, without exaggeration, in a narrative that doesn't really matter much, but can still be satisfying.
The cast is great, the chemistry between the actors is visible and helps the characters to gain more background and be more solid.
The last act is a bit rushed, and even bizarre sometimes, but ends in a fun way.
This Argentine film explores the lifestyle that took over a large part of that country's society at the beginning of the 21st century, where uncertainty and economic difficulties began to have an impact on the way people relate and deal with life.
Martín Rejtman intelligently manages to capture the audience's attention through moments and situations that are very down-to-earth, without exaggeration, in a narrative that doesn't really matter much, but can still be satisfying.
The cast is great, the chemistry between the actors is visible and helps the characters to gain more background and be more solid.
The last act is a bit rushed, and even bizarre sometimes, but ends in a fun way.
Trying hard to be Rohmer.
andrea-prodan13 June 2021
I had heard so much about this film that I looked forward to seeing it as in trendy Buenos Aires circles it is something of a cult item.
Mistake.
Stilted acting, rambling 'smart ass' dialogue, trite situations. It was instantly apparent that here was yet another lame attempt at trying to be 'cool' and European. Let's say: French.
The neutral Rohmer tone works perfectly when used by it's inventor. So do his themes, and charming actors. But here the actors lack 'charme', the dialogue lacks sparkle...and the whole thing feels like a frail attempt at 'clever' Cinema done by a pompous fourteen-year-old.
If this is Arty Argentine Cinema give me their staple but unpretentious 'popular' Cinema.
All the worst 'tics' of the arrogant and self-important 'porteño' are on display. This little 'clique' of friends might delight in their home-movie, but they sure know how to bore one to death.
Mistake.
Stilted acting, rambling 'smart ass' dialogue, trite situations. It was instantly apparent that here was yet another lame attempt at trying to be 'cool' and European. Let's say: French.
The neutral Rohmer tone works perfectly when used by it's inventor. So do his themes, and charming actors. But here the actors lack 'charme', the dialogue lacks sparkle...and the whole thing feels like a frail attempt at 'clever' Cinema done by a pompous fourteen-year-old.
If this is Arty Argentine Cinema give me their staple but unpretentious 'popular' Cinema.
All the worst 'tics' of the arrogant and self-important 'porteño' are on display. This little 'clique' of friends might delight in their home-movie, but they sure know how to bore one to death.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
