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Before Opening Night

View on the Pragda STREAM site

Writer-director Santiago Giralt gives us elements of Woody Allen’s nervous comedy and Cassavetes’ melodramatic roller coaster in a storm of egos that takes place on one decisive weekend in the lives of Juana, a popular actress about to star in an important theater production, and her husband Roman, a director suffering from writer’s block. The couple’s daughter, Lila, serves as a mirror reflecting her parents’ frustrations and joys. The long takes, atmospheric music, and stellar performances (Erica Rivas won Best Actress at the Mar del Plata Film Festival for her portrayal of Juana), give a poignant, sometimes hilarious portrayal of a family as they attempt to negotiate their egos with their marriage and artistic lives. Directed by one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation, Before Opening Night is an excellent example of the reinvigorated independent cinema coming from Argentina in recent years.

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