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Reviews
El camino de San Diego (2006)
Understand the title or miss the point
First, the English title, "The Road to San Diego," is misleading and would be better translated as "The Way to St. Diego." (Before reading on, be warned that what follows contains spoilers.) The title involves a play on words. First, it refers to Argentine soccer hero Diego Maradona as St. Diego since he has been accorded saint-like status by the movie's protagonist and by many Argentines. It also evokes the Spanish phrase, "El camino de Santiago" ("The Way to Santiago"), which refers to the route that medieval pilgrims took to travel from all over Europe to the city of Santiago, Spain, which was alleged to have the remains of the apostle St. James. This movie's protagonist is, like a medieval pilgrim, on a holy quest. Marginally employed and living in poverty, he could use a miracle for himself, and perhaps that is the unconscious motive for his journey, but its conscious purpose is to support Maradona, who at the movie's beginning is hospitalized, perhaps as a result of an overly indulgent lifestyle made possible by a budget that is beyond this poor follower's imagination. In short, the film is a compelling commentary on the human urge to find something to believe in. It is a bit slow at places but is well worth viewing.
Ciudad en celo (2006)
More than just a funny movie
This is more than just another funny movie. It definitely is funny, and I laughed continually along with the rest of the audience from the opening sequence right up to the end. As I left the theater, I noticed people standing around and chatting about the movie and still laughing. The group I saw it with discussed it for nearly an hour. We relived lots of the funny parts but also pondered its serious dimensions. Its humor is a response to life's fragility and unpredictability. Like Trueba's Belle Epoque, it is a cinematographic carpe dieman invitation to pack as much joy as possible into a life that is absurd and fleeting. The humor is not black humor, however. It is joyful, although its joy is framed in darkness. Unlike Belle Epoque, whose historical setting makes its darkness less immediately apparent, Ciudad en celo is set in contemporary Buenos Aires and shows people coping with current situations. Its portrayal of Buenos Aires is touching and right on target. It captures the soul of the city. The movie is also visually and orally engaging. The tangos Dolores Sola sings are haunting. Other scenes make effective use of barely audible music. The camera work is excellent, as are all the performances. I am a big fan of Spanish and Latin American cinema and especially like Argentine movies. Although Spain has recently made some excellent comedies, the genre is underdeveloped in Latin America. This film is a welcome step toward filling the gap. I hope it starts a trend.