Ana et les Autres

Ana y los Otros is the first feature film of Celina Murga, who previously acted as assistant director to Damian Szifron (Los Simuladores). And what a great debut it is. The film's first half is slow and a character study. Mostly random encounters of Anna and previous people that knew her in her life, as she returns to her native city. Yet, in each encounter, we learn a little bit more about Anna, without her whole life story ever been told. We are never told why she's back in Parana, but the film lets the spectator begin guessing. This first half of the first film is pretty depressing as the feeling of displacement and awkwardness is prevalent and may easily turn viewers away. But, it is during her dancing that the movie begins shifting its depressing mood. Suddenly, all the pieces come together, as Anna goes on her final quest. It is the last 30 minutes of the film that, with great subtlety, Murga teaches about love and optimism. What had seemed random shots done by a student director, shows us a brilliant person who has seen a lot of cinema and loves it with a passion. Highly recommended. It may indeed be the birth of a great new Argentinian director.