Sofacama

The main reason for watching this film was the presence of Cecilia Roth, one of the better known actresses from Argentina, whose career has taken her to different countries. Not knowing anything about "Sofacama", we decided to take a chance on it when it showed on cable recently.

Director Ulises Rosell, whose work we had not seen before, proves he is a man with good ideas, like it's the case with this feature. Unfortunately, we lose our interest as the film progresses because it appears many takes were improvised. The idea of a teen ager falling in love with an older woman is not exactly a novelty. We have seen it before, with a better execution.

Young Leo, who lives with his mother, Bernie, and two brothers, sees his life interrupted with the arrival of her friend, Carmen, into their messy Buenos Aires household. Leo lusts after the shapely Carmen, especially in the early scenes when she is made to sleep in the living room sofa. Leo's mind is not on the television program he pretends to watch, but in the body of the attractive woman curled in a fetal position to his left. Little does Carmen know that the sofa opens up into a bed.

Bernie, the mother, is a woman without a man. She has to hustle to make ends meet. She seems to care for her three sons, although she doesn't seem to realize, or perhaps she keeps a blind eye about the way Leo is affected by the arrival of Carmen.

Cecilia Roth does an effective job as Bernie. Ms. Roth always projects a great deal of intelligence in any character she plays, as is the case here. Martin Piroyansky, who is seen as Leo, underplays his role with felicitous results; this young actor's take on his character rings true. The shapely Maria Fernanda Callejon also contributes to the success of the film.