The Institute of Latin American Studies and the Institute of Modern Languages Researchinvites to a new session of the series that looks at the dialogues between the ‘New Argentina Cinema’ and the less explored ‘New Argentine Theatre’. Innovative technologies, humour and live music and dance enhance this upcoming body of work challenging the purity of genres. The series introduces selected experimental productions to the British audience while featuring live conversations with the most talented and celebrated young directors.

 

On January 21st, we will feature El loro y el cisne (2013), a delightful remake of the Swan Lake in a film within a film that mischievously articulates the world of dance –specifically, the shooting of a documentary about an experimental dance-theater company in Argentina– with quirky love-story. Do not miss this wonderful feature of a whole genre coming together!

On the film: ‘Moguillansky offered a beguiling fusion of dance theatre and film noir in Castro; now he turns to comedy in this gentle, melancholic love story in which the film-within-a-film plotline is refracted through a dry, deadpan humour. A film crew are making a documentary on contemporary dance theatre in Argentina, with the sound recordist (El Loro – ‘The Parrot’ in English) caught in the midst of a messy break-up with his girlfriend, who has dumped him by letter. Loro begins to fall for one of the dancers in the film. Moguillanksy details the labour involved in the creative process with adept, playful energy, making The Parrot and the Swan not only a contemplation of dance on film but also a teasing romance where the object of desire is always somewhat out of the hapless Loro’s grasp’ (Prof. Maria Delgado -QMUL-, London Fest).

 

Alejo Moguillansky was born in 1978 in Buenos Aires. His first film The Prisoner (La prisionera, 2006) was premiered in Berlinale 2006. His second feature film Castro was awarded as Best Film and Best Cinematography in BAFICI 2009, and premiered internationally in Festival de Locarno, and more than 25 festivals from more than 30 countries. As an editor, he made more than 15 films. He founded, besides Mariano LLinás, Agustín Mendilaharzu and Laura Citarella, El Pampero Cine, Independent Production House in Argentina. He co-directed the play Love is a Sniper (aka El amor es un francotirador), with Lola Arias, among some other theatre spectacles. He collaborates with Dance Group Krapp. He’s now finishing a feature film produced by CPH:DOX, premiering the theatre play For the Money (aka Por el dinero) in Buenos Aires. Meanwhile he works on a new feature film The Submarine War (aka La Guerra Submarina) for 2014.

 

Coordination and facilitation: Dr. Cecilia Sosa (University of East London/ Institute of Latin American Studies) and Dr. Jordana Blejmar (Institute of Modern Languages Research).

 

21 January, 6 pm, Senate House, Court Room (1^st floor), Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU