Movie Review Paulina

Paulina

Directed by Santiago Mitre

Written by Eduardo Borrás, Mariano Linas, Santiago Mitre

Starring Dolores Fonzi, Oscar Martínez

Release Date June 23rd, 2017

Paulina: A Riveting Exploration of Trauma, Justice, and Female Agency

A Sharp and Uncompromising Story

Director Santiago Mitre's film "Paulina" is a thought-provoking and unflinching narrative centered around an equally resolute and enigmatic character. Paulina, portrayed by Dolores Fonzi, is a woman whose stoic demeanor and dispassionate voice create a performance that is both captivating and unsettling. Fonzi's portrayal is central to the film's exploration of weighty issues, as Paulina becomes a lens through which the audience grapples with questions of justice, morality, and the complexities of human experience.

A Fateful Decision

The film opens with a powerful scene: Paulina informs her father that she is abandoning her promising legal career to teach at a rural school. This decision sets the stage for the film's exploration of social and political tensions, as Paulina leaves the comforts of Buenos Aires for a challenging new life in the countryside. The opening scene, a single unbroken take, captures the intensity of the father-daughter relationship and Paulina's unwavering determination.

The Disconnect and the Assault

Paulina's arrival at the rural school is met with resistance. Her attempts to engage the students in political discourse are unsuccessful, highlighting the cultural and social disconnect between Paulina and her new environment. The film's focus then shifts dramatically as Paulina is brutally assaulted and raped by a group of young men. Mitre's unflinching portrayal of the attack is raw and disturbing, devoid of cinematic embellishments.

An Unexpected Turn

In a jarring narrative twist, the film rewinds and adopts the perspective of the main attacker. This unexpected shift forces the audience to confront the perpetrator's motivations and the events that led to the assault. The film delves into the complexities of human behavior, challenging viewers to consider the roots of violence and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator.

Controversial Choices and Unanswerable Questions

The aftermath of the attack is where "Paulina" truly distinguishes itself. Paulina's response to the trauma is both confounding and courageous, defying expectations and societal norms. Her decisions raise profound questions about justice, revenge, and the nature of healing. The film refuses to provide easy answers, leaving viewers to grapple with the complexities of Paulina's choices and the long-lasting impact of violence.

A Daring and Unforgettable Film

"Paulina" is a challenging and unforgettable film that explores difficult themes with unflinching honesty. Dolores Fonzi's performance is mesmerizing, and Santiago Mitre's direction is both audacious and thought-provoking. The film's exploration of rape, trauma, and female agency is both timely and timeless, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

A Call to Action

"Paulina" is not a film for the faint of heart. It demands attention, introspection, and a willingness to engage with uncomfortable truths. But for those who seek a cinematic experience that challenges, provokes, and ultimately rewards, "Paulina" is a must-see.

Movie Review Paulina

Paulina (2015) 

Directed by Santiago Mitre

Written by Santiago Mitre 

Starring Delores Fonzi 

Release Date June 15th, 2015 

Director Santiago Mitre’s Paulina is a sharp and uncompromising story about a sharp and uncompromising character. The Paulina at the center of Paulina is portrayed by actress Dolores Fonzi whose inscrutable face and dispassionate voice crafts a performance that some will find off-putting but that I found to be endlessly fascinating, more so than the weighty issues the film employs Paulina to scrutinize.

Paulina is a success in her field in the Argentine judiciary, on her way toward becoming a lawyer, possibly someday a judge, when she informs her father (Oscar Martinez) that she is giving up her position and her education to teach at a rural school. Paulina’s decision is a fateful one as moving to the rural province outside the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires will not come easily. The scene of Paulina informing her father of her decision is one of incredible power that also happens to be the very first scene of the film.

In one unbroken take, that mostly sticks with Paulina’s enigmatic face as she moves through her father’s home, father and daughter debate the pros and cons, snipe at each other willfully and debate the politics of the region, all in the span of a 5 to 10-minute take. It’s a scene remarkable in its audacity as much as in its scripting. The dialogue is as fiery and passionate even as Paulina herself is self-possessed. Paulina argues her point with fervent words while her face rarely indicates the meaning of the words.

From there Paulina travels to a small village where she is hoping to teach politics to youths who’ve never been exposed to the inner-workings of government and aren’t particularly interested. On Paulina’s first day her entire class walks out after she makes an error while attempting to engage them. The students walk out again the second day when she fails to engage them with a game. Paulina’s struggles with the students are absorbing and yet dizzying. While most of Paulina is subtitled, the dialogue of the students is not transcribed and those who don’t speak the language have only Paulina for context, furthering the intended disconnect between the audience and Paulina while similarly forcing us to identify with her.

Read my full length review at Geeks.Media