Herencia (2001)

NO ENGLISH SUB-TITLES

NOTE TO THE UNWARY: NO ENGLISH SUB-TITLES. SO YOU'D
BETTER BE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH OR FOLLOW ALONG WITH
DIFFICULTY AS BEST YOU CAN... September 20, 2008

Hacer los sueños realidad...

Todos acariciamos durante nuestra vida, especialmente cuando creemos que el tiempo se acaba, sueños, deseos, fantasías que nos gustaría realizar. Esperamos, buscamos, nos ponemos pretextos, nos afianzamos a eso concreto, limitado, brevísimo aliciente de lo inmediato: el trabajo, el pequeño negocio, los bienes materiales que hemos logrado a lo largo de esa existencia vacía. Los sueños pueden seguir esperando. A veces buscamos el amor, la relación de alguien, importarle a alguien y aunque lo tengamos enfrente no queremos darnos cuenta. "Herencia" nos invita a realizar los sueños y a reconocer que la vuelta al paraíso siempre es posible: recuperar la vida no vivida y plantearnos nuevos sueños. "Herencia" se inscribe, además, en la temática de que la vejez es la edad donde todo es posible, si uno así lo dispone. August 30, 2008

Love Songs in Buenos Aires

HERENCIA is a superb film from Argentina directed by the gifted Paula Hernandez. Using very economical means, Hernandez presents a story about the intertwining of people's lives that is most appropriate for Buenos Aires as this beautiful city has long been known as a safe haven refuge for Europeans and North Americans alike.

Olinda (Oli) - played to absolute perfection by Rita Cortese) is a small restaurant owner who serves her neighborhood: most of the customers are old friends and Oli barely ekes out a living, cooking with the help of one helper - Angel. She has 'decided' to sell the restuarant to make enough money to return to her home country - Italy. Into her life pops a young German visitor Peter - Adrian Witzke) in search of his long lost girlfriend he met there some years ago. Without anything but a picture to guide him and speaking minimal Spanish, he frustratedly happens into Oli's restaurant and is befriended by her, ultimately being allowed to sleep on the bar, be hired as a barkeep and handyman. Oli 'adopts' Peter spiritually and together they share their dreams as fellow traveler/immigrants despite the significant difference in their ages. The way the two cope with love [Oli with her artist companion (M. Adjamian), Peter with his irretrievable lost love and then new found one (Julieta Diaz)]; the need for acknowledging roots and holding on to the good things of the past; the way they resolve their needs - all make for a very tender love story. The cast is superb - every character well cast and performed. So many levels of love stories played against the romantic setting of Buenos Aires. Well worth your time! Grady Harp, February 08 February 4, 2008

Captures the experience of the long term immigrant or newly arrived very poingnantly!

A young man from Germany arrives in Buenos Aires on an impulse, looking for an old girlfriend. It's been over a year since he last heard of her and she has moved. After several misadventures, the young man ends up living with a mature Italian woman, who is disenchanted with her life and her Italian restaurant. She finds inspiration in helping Pieter look for his lost love and adjust to life in Argentina. Funny, poignant, endearing movie. Excellent performances. Well worth the price! January 26, 2008

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