20th Century Women
118'
USA
IFFR 2017
Camila, a young Argentinian theatre director, travels from Buenos Aires to New York to work as artist in residence on her Spanish translation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her friend Carmen has just completed a similar residency and Camila takes over her New York apartment – and gradually also her friends.
Whereas Matías Piñeiro’s previous three films based on Shakespeare quoted him at length and confusion of identity dominated, here the references to the original comedy are lighter and authentic, playful chaos is given plenty of space – because both Piñeiro and his characters are inspired and fascinated by Shakespeare’s grandiloquent language and can use a handhold in their new surroundings. The story jumps from New York to Buenos Aires and back again to the United States. What brought Camila here and what is she looking for? Even without being acquainted with Shakespeare’s (or Piñeiro’s) work, this contemporary adaptation is charming and enjoyable.
IFFR 2017