Institute History
Description
Martin, an adolescent full of angst, bicycles away from home (at the tip of the Southern Cone) in search of his absent father. His road movie carries us through a landscape of Latin American dreams and nightmares as The Journey gives full rein to the comedic imagination. Perhaps Solanas cannot single handedly invent anew form of political satire—but it won't be for lack of trying.
The closest the film comes to a hero is the figure of Americo Inconcluso, a blind Cuban-Guatemalan-Panamanian truck driver who gives Martin a lift. Traversing the highway at demonic speeds and boasting of his accident free record. Americo pounds out Caribbean rhythms on the steering wheel and recounts his life under sixty dictatorships. When Martin finally arrives in Buenos Aires, he finds the city flooded, houses submerged, and a population entranced by soap operas passively accepting the exhortations of their buffoon president, Sr. Rana (Frog): Swim for it, Argentina!
Martin may eventually find his father, but by then his journey reveals more than any reunion can resolve. Solanas was shot down last year soon after publicly criticizing President Menem. He survived, but the powers and dangers of allegory have never been clearer.
Tuesday Jan 26 10:00 am
Egyptian Theatre
Friday Jan 29 1:15 pm
Holiday Village Cinema II
$6.00