Lost Embrace (2004)

Absolutely Brilliant!

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This movie was very intricate, to the point that I was confused at times, especially in the beginning. There was very little use of music also, which made the majority of the movie feel empty in a way. I think that it perfectly paralleled Ariel's feelings toward his estranged father. He felt a lot of animosity toward his father because it seemed like he left Ariel and his mother without a valid reason. Since Ariel was the main character in this film, it caused the viewers to take his side, and sympathize with him. That is why I found myself feeling hatred toward his father as well, and when he appeared at the race, I felt that something terrible was going to happen since I viewed him as a bad guy. This opinion of him was formed too prematurely, and at the end when I discovered the truth about Ariel's father, I felt remorseful. It is definitely important to keep an open mind when you are watching the movie, especially for the first time.

This slice of life is set on the old commercial neighborhood of Once in Buenos Aires, right after Argentina's economic crisis of 2001. Set mostly among the Jewish community in the neighborhood (though members of other communities, like Bolivians and Koreans, also appear), the main protagonist is Ariel Makaroff, a twenty something guy, who helps his mother run a lingerie shop in a galeria (that is, a very seedy and shabby department store). His father having emigrated to Israel years ago to fight one of the wars there, Ariel longs to emigrate to the developed world, specifically Poland, ironically from where his grandmother escaped sixty years ago because of antisemitism. To impress the Polish consul in order to get the passport, the Jewish man tries to name several famous Poles, but can only come up with the (then) Pope. This movie tries to paint the life of a middle class whose dreams of upscale progress became shattered after recurrent economic crisis, but it ends up being less interesting than it should be; still, a not totally bad effort.

*THIS COMMENT CONTAIN SPOILERS* *THIS COMMENT CONTAIN SPOILERS*I have almost nothing good to say about this film. The characters were not interesting enough. The dialog was as its best dry and simple. The jokes(were there any jokes) have simply passed me without making me laugh. It was too predictable and obvious. As an experienced movie goer I could see for miles ahead that the father will be returning to solve the conflict and that Daniel will not be going to Europe after all. At 100 minutes long, it was too long, and the material could not be holding the 100 minutes. The camera work was irritating. The only thing that was good and may have saved from a total disaster was the acting. It looked authentic and natural. What a waste of time and money.

do you think your town is the only cosmopolitan place on earth? do you have issues with your mom? has your dad been absent for some time? is your brother a loser? this portrait of a man in crisis is funnily descriptive, sharply accurate and surprisingly moving. I just loved it! excellent camera, screenplay, direction and acting. the leads are outstanding and the secondaries superb.Daniel Burman and Daniel Hendler have reached the perfect timing to expose contemporary idiosyncrasy in the finest shape.hats off!