Sidewalls (Medianaras) is a quirky indie Argentinian movie that explores the explosive and divisive nature of today’s metropolises on our lifestyles. Directed by Gustavo Toretto, the film uses Buenos Aires, as the setting of the general delineation of the human culture.
At the center of the movie are two millennials, Marian, an architect and Martin, a web designer, leading lonely lives in the megapolis. It is through their eyes we see the beauty of the architecture of Buenos Aires. Mariana explains that sidewalls are the ugly sides of the buildings that no one pays attention to, that have all the repair marks, have cracks covered with ugly advertising.
Through the course of the movie, Martin and Mariana provide semi-philosophical commentary with a voice-over-based narrative. Both represent the common dysfunctional state of being single in a large city. Each lives in a tiny apartment, suffers from new age phobias and is terribly lonely person in need of love, peace and companionship in a city of millions of people. They represent the Sidewalls of humanity — marginalized, ignored, and fractured remains of the booming skyscrapers of the 21st century.
Sidewalls Screencap Source: IMDB.com
Sidewalls examines multiple factors that have led to this compartmentalization of individuals from each other. It lays the blame on 21st century metropolises with their daunting, congested, and ever-changing skylines, making the city uglier every turn and the people living in them strangers to one another.
It looks at the web of cables connecting the city, but ironically making its inhabitants more isolated. For instance, Martin and Mariana live on the same block but never meet. Their first interaction is through a virtual chat room.
Sidewalls poster
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Sidewalls has a hopeful comedic feel to it. Whether it’s Mariana ditching her date on the floor of a 20th floor apartment building, or Martin’s romance with his dog walker, you will smile often.
Originally Sidewalls found success as a short film, prompting the creators to make a full-length feature. While the story is engaging, it loses pace in the middle prompting the thought that it may not have translated as well to the new format.
A bittersweet movie with solid performances from the leads Javier Drolas and Pilar Lopez and worthwhile watching once.
4 comments
I see you are exploring off-beat international movies as well 🙂 Looking fwd to hearing more on your perspective of European movies. Did you watch Barfi yet?
This sounds like a great movie. Well written. I’d want to watch this.
@Ashmita – I don’t know how much of off-beat cinema I am exploring. The concept looked interesting so thought I will check it out
@Sleepyface – Why are you not blogging more often? Anyway, the movie is quirky and sweet – definitely can be watched one
@Vipula, I know this the second time you are asking me this question and I will make an earnest attempt at hiking the frequency.