Intimate Stories (2002/Argentina)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: B

 

 

Carlos Sorin’s Intimate Stories (2002) is a is a smart, well-paced, multi-layered story about several people on a quest to find something more and the lengths at which they will go to do so.  Set in Argentina, the story involves an old man named Don Justo who just wants to be reunited with his dog who is actually still alive, three women going on a game show and Roberto wants to present the perfect soccer ball birthday cake to impress a would-be family he could be part of.

 

Sometimes funny, a bit sad in parts and always interesting, I give Sorin and screenplay writer Pablo Solarz for giving the film irony and nuance.  This is a film about people and their hopes and dreams, real dreams and not some manufactured nonsense about silly material things being the only things that are satisfying.  It shows what people truly aim for when they really think about what they want and are not told what they want, as in brainwashed.  The cast is good and if you like Robert Altman or films like Crash (2005), Magnolia or Playing By Heart, this is one worth your time.

 

The 1.78 X 1/16 X 9 image is a little soft throughout, but looks good for being shot in Super 16mm versus 35mm and is always a better route to go than digital High Definition.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 is simple stereo at best, though it may have been a Dolby Digital theatrical release.  The combination is fine, with dialogue clear enough.

Extras include theatrical trailers and a brief-but-interesting featurette.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo