Nominated for an Oscar this year for BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM ~ This Argentinian film written and directed by Damián Szifrón, is a conglomeration of 6 tragic, yet at times totally hilarious and prophetic short films, that take you deep in to the psyche of REAL LIFE, and prove that regardless of your linage, your social status, or your bank account, life throws circumstances at us all that tend to bring out OUR INNER BEAST!!!
We first meet the talented and beautiful young Isabell (Maria Marull) who is flying on a business trip, and who decides to strike up a conversation with the gentleman across the aisle. Realizing that they have many things in common, including a particular individual from their past, seems rather coincidental. As the others around them start to take note of this person of interest they are conversing about, it doesn’t take long until everyone on the plane realizes that they ALL know the same gentleman. But why would they all be on the same plane, at the same time, and know this same individual??? Panic starts to loom over this aircraft, as this is apparently not a pleasure trip for anyone on board, but someone’s SICK REVENGE on them all…
Flash-forward to Moza (Julietta Zylberburg), a young waitress about to close up the café she works at for the night. When a customer arrives to get out of the rain, she lets him in, only to realize that she knows this man. She not only knows him, but he betrayed her family~ causing her father to take his own life~ so she can barely stand to wait on him. Sharing her story with the cook who is about to prepare his order, the cook suggests that they finally take care of this wicked and evil man once and for all. Not wanting to have to live with the thought of taking someone’s life, the waitress denies the Cook’s suggestion of ridding the world of another vile creature…but as she proceeds to serve his food, the Cook may have decided to take the situation into her own hands anyway…
We are next faced with a situation of extreme “ROAD RAGE” as we meet Diego (Leonardo Sbaraglia) who is trying to pass the jerk in front of him on his long road trip. When the road widens, Diego makes his move, but not before he tells the other driver exactly what he thinks of him, and his vehicle. Well, be careful what you do and say, as it may come back to haunt you ~literally~ as it isn’t long before, in this tragic short we find, what we say and do to others may ultimately lead to our own demise…
And for all of us who have felt held down by “THE MAN”, Szifrón didn’t want you to feel left out either, as we meet Simon (Ricardo Darin) a demolition expert who finds himself at the mercy of “the institution” having had his car towed away for absolutely no reason. Having to pay the company’s exorbitant fee and causing him to miss his daughter’s birthday as he tries to retrieve his vehicle, Simon is becoming consumed with the company’s policies and lack of customer service. With no end in sight as to restitution on the exorbitant fees or acknowledgement that the place he parked was not marked NO PARKING, Simon begins to become enraged ~ leading to the ultimate destruction of both his personal and professional lives…but seeking revenge…in the end…may prove to be his best move yet…
Next up we meet the loving father and business tycoon Mauricio (Oscar Martinez), who is faced with trying to help his son out of going to jail on manslaughter charges. Reaching out to his lawyer, he tries to finagle a situation that includes his groundskeeper to take the fall. As the wheels start turning, and its seems that for the right price, even the police are willing to go along with the charade, Mauricio finds maybe his conscience ~ or his bank account ~ cant’ quite seem to handle this situation after all…
And what would the perfect anthology film be without the bliss of a exquisite wedding reception~ complete with craziness at every turn~ as we meet the beautiful bride Roamina (Erica Rivas), who is ready to start married life with her beloved Ariel (Diego Gentile), Well, the bliss is short-lived, as we find out that Ariel’s co-worker at the reception has been occupying his spare time, as they say. Mayhem ensues as Roamina looses it, literally, trying to come to terms with her cheating new husband, and all of he emotions that consume her knowing the truth…
I give WILD TALES a B-: This film definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, as from the first frame, till the last, your not quite sure where your headed, or what is going to happen next. This anthology film is full of so many twists and turns, that it will bring you to ask yourself ~ WTH is happening in not one, but all 6 short tales. Szifrón’s writing and directing is superb, as each segment of this film could definitely stand on its own, but having the vision to put them together, explaining the wildness in us all, was nothing shy of sheer genius. I also feel that the Oscar nod this film received was well deserved too, having finally had the chance to see and experience it for myself. WILD TALES is showing exclusively at the TIVOLI ~ so if you want to get your WILD ON anytime soon~ this is where you will have to venture to ~ and I suggest you do…
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 