The current World Cup champions have a lot to offer beyond their two holy ’M’s (Messi and Maradona): Tango, succulent steaks, a wonderfully ‘Italianesque’ dialect of Spanish and one of the biggest film industries in Latin America. In late 2023, Javier Milei, Argentina’s incumbent president, announced his plans to defund the INCAA, the country’s national film and TV institute. This measure has already had catastrophic impacts on Argentina’s film industry. National film production is currently frozen due to a severe lack of funding. These cuts have been protested across the country and internationally, like at this year’s edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain.

“National film production is currently frozen due to a severe lack of funding”

In light of this, here below are some contemporary Argentine films that will serve as an entry point into the country’s wonderfully resilient and politically engaged cinematic tradition, that has managed to survive multiple economic crises through thematic and formal innovation. In Milei’s words, “no hay plata” (there is no money), but it seems as though Argentina’s film industry will not cry for us yet. Rather, it will continue to fight and this time hopefully with your support.

La ciénaga (2001) by Lucrecia Martel

Among the many useful things I learnt during my MML-prescribed year abroad, was the fact that Lucrecia Martel’s La ciénaga, seems to be every cool Argentine girl’s favourite film. If you ever find yourself trying to impress a cool Argentine girl, I strongly recommend you bring this film up. De nada. Released the year of the fatal 2001 economic crash, Martel’s first full length feature film, is centred around the everyday lives of two middle-class families from the Northern region of Salta. Think decadence of the middle-class, incest, racial tensions, repressed queer desire and bucket loads of humidity. I cannot guarantee this will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I promise that this film offers a transformational viewing experience. If anything, because Martel’s mastery of sound will leave your ears reeling from the anti-ASMR sounds of scraping chairs and shattered wine glasses, the characters compulsively down.

Okupas (2000) by Bruno Stagnaro

A great one for this year’s finalists, Bruno Stagnaro’s cult classic drama series, follows four young men that begin living together in an occupied house in Buenos Aires. The protagonist, Ricardo played by Rodrigo de la Serra (whom Money Heist fans may recognise), is a med-school dropout that feels ambitionless and directionless. This leads him to embark on various side quests with his new friends, that include trying coke for the first time and almost killing a man. Okupas’ soundtrack is also legendary. From Pescado Rabioso, to Almendra and Rafaga, you will be initiated in Argentine musical history. I would recommend watching this one cuddled up with the boys on a rainy Wednesday night; it will prove a chill but poignant watch.

“This historical war seems to be yet another regrettably nationally obscured instance of British imperialism”

Medianeras (2011) by Gustavo Taretto

Possibly one of the cutest films ever. Gustavo Taretto’s romcom take on urban disillusionment and loneliness will be the perfect cure to your week five blues. The film follows Martín, a web designer and Mariana, an artist that mainly finds herself decorating shop window displays. We quickly observe how they are neurotically perfect for each other in every way and they even live on the same street, in opposite buildings. But they keep mysteriously missing each other, until … Taretto focuses greatly on Buenos Aires’ architecture and the film almost acts as a simultaneous love letter to the city. Overall, Medianeras should provide a warm comfort to any ArcSoc regulars or neurotic romantics that true love will (filmically at least) find you in the end.

Teatro de guerra (2018) by Lola Arias

Beyond footballistic mentions of the Hand of God, I have rarely witnessed a conversation about the Malvinas (or Falklands) War in the U.K. This is why I would like to recommend Lola Arias’ documentary that features the personal histories of a group of English and Argentine army men that fought in the devastating war. In the documentary, we listen to these men’s stories and watch them interact with one another. Arias’ approach is experimental and chooses to leave the political conclusioin to the viewer. This viewing experience will leave you with more questions than answers, but this is precisely why I think this film is a worthwhile watch. Especially for the British viewer, as beyond a brief mention on the GCSE History syllabus, this historical war seems to be yet another regrettably nationally obscured instance of British imperialism.