Sisters(2005 film)

Sisters
Theatrical release poster
Spanish	Hermanas
Directed by	Julia Solomonoff
Written by	Julia Solomonoff
Produced by	Mariela Besuievski Pablo Bossi Florencia Enghel Gerardo Herrero Vanessa Ragone Walter Salles Ariel Saúl
Starring	Valeria Bertuccelli Ingrid Rubio Adrián Navarro
Cinematography	Ramiro Civita
Edited by	Rosario Suárez
Music by	Jorge Drexler Lucio Godoy
Production companies	Cruzdelsur Zona Audiovisual Patagonik Film Group Tornasol Films Videofilmes
Distributed by	Cinema Tropical
Release dates	April 14, 2005(2005-04-14)(BAFICI) April 28, 2005(2005-04-28)(Argentina) November 25, 2005(2005-11-25)(Spain)
Running time	88 minutes
Countries	Argentina Brazil Spain
Language	Spanish

Sisters(Spanish:Hermanas) is a 2005 drama film written and directed byJulia Solomonoff,her first feature motion picture. The picture has a number of producers, including: Mariela Besuievski, Pablo Bossi, Florencia Enghel, Gerardo Herrero, Vanessa Ragone,Walter Salles,and Ariel Saúl.

The film featuresValeria Bertuccelli,Ingrid Rubio,among others.

Plot

In 1976, during thepolitical turmoil in Argentina,two sisters flee their country right after Natalia's politically active boyfriend Martin disappears; one goes toSpain,and the other toTexas,United States.

After eight years in Spain, Natalia (Ingrid Rubio) travels to Texas to visit her sister Elena (Valeria Bertuccelli), who's now a suburban wife and mother.

She brings with her their father's manuscript of his last novel. The unpublished novel reveals the story of their family during the Argentine dictatorship.

Using extensive flashbacks of the sisters early years in Argentina during thejuntadictatorship, the director reveals family guilt and suppressed resentment.

Cast

• Valeria Bertuccellias Elena Levín
• Ingrid Rubioas Natalia Levin
• Adrián Navarroas Sebastián Morini
• Nicolás Pauls as Martín García Solís
• Milton De La Canal as Tomás Morini
• Horacio Peñaas David Levin
• Mónica Galán as Marta Levín
• Eusebio Poncelaas Luis Morini
• Pedro Pascalas Steve
• Gustavo Pastorini as American Tourist

Background

Further information:Dirty War

The film is based on the real political events that took place in Argentina afterJorge Rafael Videla's reactionary militaryjuntaassumed power on March 24, 1976. During the junta's rule: the parliament was suspended, unions, political parties and provincial governments were banned, and in what became known as theDirty Warbetween 9,000 and 30,000 people deemed left-wing "subversives" disappeared from society.

Production

Sistersis an Argentine-Spanish-Brazilian co-production by Cruzdelsur Zona Audiovisual,Patagonik Film Group,Tornasol Films and Videofilmes.

Release

The film was presented at theBuenos Aires Independent Film Festival(BAFICI) in April 2005, with a theatrical release date in Argentina set for 28 April 2005.It was released theatrically in Spain on 25 November 2005.

Critical reception

Jeannette Catsoulis, film critic forThe New York Timesliked the film, especially the acting ofValeria BertuccelliandIngrid Rubio,and wrote, "Though constrained by a directing style that insists on coloring within the lines, the movie is most successful in the rocky emotional spaces in which the sisters renegotiate their relationship and in which Elena, struggling with English, endures the painful process of assimilation...both actresses make their director look very good indeed."

In the same vein, Jonathan Holland, film critic forVarietymagazine, appreciated the acting but gave the film a mixed review and wrote, "The political skeleton of 1970's Argentina rolls out of the closet to mostly positive effect in Julia Solomonoff'sSisters,a solidly-built but somewhat airless debut from the assistant director ofThe Motorcycle Diaries.The complex plot doesn't fully exploit the possibilities for suspense, but first-class perfs, great atmospherics and an upbeat message combine to make the pic work better as a sibling drama than as a thriller. "

Critic V.A. Mesetto thought the screenplay was predictable but also likes the acting, and wrote, "Solomonoff draws out vivid performances by Valeria Bertuccelli (Elena) and Ingrid Rubio (Natalia) that make up for the script's predictability."

Film critic Ed Gonzalez wrote, "Solomonoff doesn't strike very interesting contrasts between past and present, but her actresses certainly do: Rubio and Bertucelli express how resentment eats away at their characters' sisterhood so richly that the many flashbacks to Argentina, shot uninterestingly in gritty hand-held gestures, seem almost unnecessary."

Distribution

The film was first presented at theBuenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinemaon April 14, 2005. It opened wide in the country on April 28, 2005.

The film was screened at various film festivals, including: theToronto International Film Festival,Canada,on September 9, 2005; theSão Paulo International Film Festival,Brazil;the Valladolid International Film Festival,Spain;the Bangkok International Film Festival,Thailand;the Toulouse Latin America Film Festival, France; and others.

In theUnited Statesit opened inNew York Cityon December 6, 2006.

DVD

ARegion 2 DVD,was released in Europe on May 16, 2006 by Cameo Media.

Reception

Awards

Nominations

• Valladolid International Film Festival:Golden Spike, Julia Solomonoff; 2005.
• Butaca Awards:Butaca; Best Catalan Film Actress, Ingrid Rubio; 2006.
• Argentine Film Critics Association Awards:Silver Condor; Best Actress, Valeria Bertuccelli; Best Costume Design, Beatriz De Benedetto and Fátima Macera; 2006.

See also

• List of Argentine films of 2005
• List of Spanish films of 2005

External links

• HermanasatIMDb
• HermanasatAllMovie
• Hermanasat thecinenacional.com(in Spanish)
• Hermanasfilm review atLeer Cineby Daniela Vilaboa(in Spanish)
• Hermanasfilm trailer atYouTube