13.3 Argentine New Cinema and contemporary Latin American film

Argentine New Cinema emerged in the 1990s, responding to economic and political turmoil. Directors like Lucrecia Martel and Pablo Trapero explored social issues through innovative storytelling, using non-professional actors and location shooting to enhance authenticity.

This movement, part of the broader Latin American Cinema landscape, challenged traditional narratives and addressed lingering effects of political violence. It gained international recognition, influencing filmmaking across Latin America and contributing to the growth of national film industries.

Argentine New Cinema: Key Figures and Films

Pioneering Directors and Their Works

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  RURAL Contemporánea: The Swamp (La Ciénaga) 2001 by Lucrecia Martel View original

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  Encuentro con Pablo Trapero, Director de Cine Argentino. | Flickr View original

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  Encuentro con Pablo Trapero, Director de Cine Argentino. | Flickr View original

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  RURAL Contemporánea: The Swamp (La Ciénaga) 2001 by Lucrecia Martel View original

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  Encuentro con Pablo Trapero, Director de Cine Argentino. | Flickr View original

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  Encuentro con Pablo Trapero, Director de Cine Argentino. | Flickr View original

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  RURAL Contemporánea: The Swamp (La Ciénaga) 2001 by Lucrecia Martel View original

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• Argentine New Cinema movement emerged in mid-1990s responding to economic crisis and political turmoil
• Lucrecia Martel's "La Ciénaga" (2001) portrays family dynamics and social decay atmospherically
• Pablo Trapero's films focus on working-class struggles and institutional corruption
  • "Crane World" (1999) explores labor issues in urban Argentina
  • "El Bonaerense" (2002) examines corruption within the police force
• Martín Rejtman's "Silvia Prieto" (1999) showcases minimalist aesthetic and deadpan humor
  • Explores themes of alienation in urban settings
  • Uses repetitive dialogue and mundane situations to highlight absurdity of modern life

Additional Influential Filmmakers

• Adrián Caetano's "Bolivia" (2001) addresses xenophobia and economic hardship
• Daniel Burman's "Lost Embrace" (2004) explores Jewish-Argentine identity
• Lisandro Alonso's "La Libertad" (2001) blurs lines between fiction and documentary
  • Follows a day in the life of a real woodcutter
  • Challenges traditional narrative structures

Distinctive Characteristics

• Use of non-professional actors enhances authenticity
• Location shooting provides realistic backdrop (streets of Buenos Aires, rural landscapes)
• Narrative ambiguity blurs lines between fiction and documentary
  • Open-ended narratives encourage audience interpretation
  • Rejection of clear-cut resolutions

Themes and Styles of Argentine New Cinema

Urban Life and Social Realities

• Explores complexities of urban life in Buenos Aires and other cities
• Depicts isolation, alienation, and socioeconomic disparities
  • Cramped apartments symbolize economic constraints
  • Empty streets reflect social disconnection
• Examines impact of globalization on local communities
  • Foreign brands and products juxtaposed with traditional elements
  • Characters struggling to adapt to changing economic landscape

Political Violence and Historical Memory

• Addresses lingering effects of "Dirty War" (1976-1983)
• Uses subtle narrative techniques and symbolic imagery
  • Empty spaces represent absence of disappeared persons
  • Family dysfunction as metaphor for national trauma
• Explores intergenerational transmission of historical trauma
  • Silent or absent parent figures
  • Young protagonists grappling with inherited guilt or confusion

Identity Exploration

• Examines personal, national, and cultural identities
• Considers impact of globalization on Argentine identity
  • Characters with mixed cultural backgrounds
  • Tension between traditional values and modern influences
• Explores multicultural heritage of Argentina
  • Jewish-Argentine experiences (Daniel Burman's films)
  • Indigenous perspectives in rural settings

Aesthetic and Narrative Approaches

• Long takes and natural lighting create sense of realism
• Handheld camera work adds immediacy and documentary feel
• Fragmented storylines and elliptical narratives challenge traditional structures
  • Non-linear timelines
  • Multiple intersecting plotlines
• Open-ended conclusions encourage audience interpretation
• Sound design crucial for creating atmosphere
  • Ambient noise used to build tension
  • Off-screen sound expands narrative space

Argentine New Cinema: Political and Cultural Context

Legacy of Military Dictatorship

• Emerged after transition to democracy, processing trauma of dictatorship (1976-1983)
• Addresses "desaparecidos" (disappeared persons) through metaphorical narratives
  • Empty spaces in homes symbolize absent family members
  • Fragmented memories represent collective trauma
• Challenges propaganda of dictatorship era
  • Focuses on individual stories rather than grand narratives
  • Critiques authoritarian structures in everyday institutions

Economic and Social Influences

• Reflects impact of 1990s neoliberal reforms and privatization
  • Characters struggling with unemployment or precarious work
  • Privatized public services as backdrop to personal stories
• Explores consequences of 2001 economic crisis
  • Scenes of social unrest and protest
  • Depictions of barter economies and community solidarity
• Examines cultural impact of globalization
  • American pop culture references in local contexts
  • Characters navigating between traditional and global identities

Reexamination of National History

• Focuses on marginalized perspectives and untold stories
  • Indigenous experiences in rural Argentina
  • Working-class narratives in urban settings
• Challenges traditional historical narratives
  • Deconstructs myths of national unity
  • Highlights ongoing social and economic inequalities
• Explores intergenerational relationships to examine historical trauma
  • Silences between parents and children
  • Young characters uncovering family secrets

Argentine New Cinema: Impact and Legacy

Influence on Latin American Cinema

• Inspired socially conscious filmmaking in Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay
  • Mexican New Wave (Amat Escalante, Carlos Reygadas)
  • Chilean cinema of the 2000s (Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio)
• Encouraged low-budget and digital filmmaking techniques
  • Use of non-professional actors across the region
  • Guerrilla-style production methods

Global Recognition and Collaboration

• Success at international film festivals increased visibility
  • Cannes Film Festival (Lucrecia Martel's "Zama", 2017)
  • Berlin International Film Festival (Pablo Trapero's "Lion's Den", 2008)
• Opened doors for co-production opportunities
  • European-Latin American collaborations (Spain, France)
  • Increased funding from international film funds
• Argentine filmmakers influential in world cinema
  • Jury members at major festivals (Lucrecia Martel at Venice Film Festival)
  • Collaborations with global film institutions (Sundance Institute, Rotterdam Lab)

Impact on Film Industry and Policy

• Increased government support for film production in Argentina
  • Creation of INCAA (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts)
  • Tax incentives for film production
• Inspired similar support systems in other Latin American countries
  • Brazil's Audiovisual Law
  • Chile's audiovisual fund
• Contributed to growth of national film industries across Latin America
  • Increased number of film schools and training programs
  • Development of regional film festivals and markets

Thematic and Stylistic Legacy

• Exploration of post-colonial themes resonated globally
  • Questioning of national identities in postcolonial contexts
  • Examination of indigenous rights and representation
• Critique of neoliberal policies contributed to global discussions
  • Depictions of economic inequality and social unrest
  • Characters navigating globalized economies
• Aesthetic innovations influenced global art cinema
  • Use of non-professional actors in social realist films worldwide
  • Adoption of long-take aesthetics in contemporary world cinema