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The Student (2011)

Director: Santiago Mitre

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From Time Out Online

Easy to admire this intelligent, mostly compelling drama from the writer of Pablo Trapero’s ‘The Lion’s Den’ and ‘Carancho’; harder, probably, to appreciate fully the nuances of its dense, detailed narrative about a young man of no clear commitment – personal, political or sexual – swept along by the heady complexities of behind-the-scenes Buenos Aires student politics. Roque (Lamothe), more interested in the seductive allure of power – not to mention that of Paula – than in ideological concerns, finds himself unexpectedly successful as a deft negotiator… An intriguing, near-abstract study of ambition, undoubtedly reflecting on the factionalism of Latin American politics, but sometimes as closed-off as one of Chabrol’s more caustic allegories.

Author: Geoff Andrew

Time Out Online London Film Festival 2011

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User reviews of this film

Gary Chartier said...

Posted on Jan 13 2012 04:55 Definitely note a depiction of a university world immediately familiar to most English-language viewers--and thus intriguing just as a window on Argentine university politics. Roque is an appealing protagonist. I was glad for a chance to see more of Buenos Aires than I recall encountering in any other film. Paula and Valeria are both appealing. The political machinations are fun to watch. All in all, quite good and thoroughly recommended. Only one complaint: the subtitles (a) don't feature overly idiomatic (or grammatical) English and (b) display quickly enough that those who aren't fast readers may miss some details.

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