La ciénaga
Lucrecia Martel / AR, JP, ES, FR, 2001 / 98 min.
This cinematic marvel by Lucrecia Martel chronicles the disintegration of a wealthy family: red wine binges, murky swimming pools, spectral grandmothers, girl crushes and mad dogs. An ominous, sweltering debut that creeps deep under the skin.
A libidinous family in a small Argentinian provincial town provide Martel with the perfect setting for a steamy film about class differences, nature, sexuality, political unrest and social stagnation.
Lucretia Martel’s scintillating debut La ciénaga ('The Swamp') is about the decline of a prosperous family who gather at their neglected plantation over one hot summer. Mecha, the matriarch, her four children and her spineless husband spend their time drinking cheap red wine around a filthy swimming pool.
The titular swamp reveals that there is a lot bubbling beneath the surface, first and foremostly sexual desire. Martel adds Horacio Quiroga’s tales of the supernatural, full of eery premonitions as the film gradually works towards its tragic climax.
Screening on 35mm from the Eye collection.
This is part of
Special screenings
Details
Director
Lucrecia Martel
Production year
2001
Country
AR, JP, ES, FR
Original title
La ciénaga
Length
98 min.
Language
Spanish
Subtitles
NLD or ENG
Format
35mm, DCP
Part of
2001
In its film programme 2001 – A Time Capsule, Eye Filmmuseum is marking the 25th anniversary of the year 2001 with a generous helping of nostalgia, screening 25 films that were released in 2001.
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