The Window

Colour, 35 mm
Spain, Argentina, 2008, 85 min
Section: Another View

Synopsis

Antonio, who is so old that 60 days seem like an eternity, waits at his idyllic country farm for a visit from his son. The son knows that his father may not be around much longer, but that doesn’t prevent petty disagreements, or an old man’s stubbornness which enables Antonio to do whatever he wants. Why should he dwell on the past when everything in his midst offers him so many ways to enjoy himself? Here, sour prospects quite naturally coexist with sunny moods, however, there’s no sense of naïve optimism. Similar to Lindsay Anderson in The Whales of August (1987), Sorin demonstrates that old age, despite its infirmities, can be extremely rewarding, even if the movie’s younger protagonists (or viewers) may not understand this. However hackneyed it may seem, the hero’s every step offers a reason to rejoice and, like the creaking of a door or the natural respect of those closest to him, adds to the cosy atmosphere of the film.

About the director

Carlos Sorin (b. 1944, Buenos Aires) recalls that movies have been his passion since childhood. After finishing his studies, he worked as an assistant cameraman and then director of photography. Before debuting in features with A King and His Movie (La película del rey, 1986), which took Best First Film at the Venice IFF, he directed commercials. After his next film failed to live up to expectations, he returned to commercial work, postponing his next feature for 13 years. Intimate Stories (Historias mínimas, 2002), like Bombón: El Perro (El perro, 2004) and The Road to San Diego (El camino de San Diego, 2006), was awarded at the San Sebastian IFF and then screened at Karlovy Vary. The Window was presented in Toronto and in competition at the festival in Valladolid, where it won the FIPRESCI Prize.