07-04-20 The Aura (El Aura) (2005)

Seen: April 15th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 8

It's hard to be original. It's a challenge to do something new, yet remain accessible. The farther out you go, the more different you become, but the harder it becomes to maintain the connection. Balancing this polarity is where the art lies.

The Aura is no art film, but the artistry is palpable.

I was enthralled by Nine Queens (Nueve reinas) one of Bielinsky's earlier efforts. It was a classic take on the con film which was very well executed and written. There were a few twists, but more impressive in its tightness and execution than its originality.

The Aura comes from way out of left field. It is one of the more fantastic, yet completely plausible films I've seen. There's nothing here that couldn't happen. Some of the coincidences are a bit convenient, but nowhere near impossible. It all falls together in a prophetically tragic fashion, becoming one of the more unqiue noirs I've seen.

It's all here. Hero with a flaw. Innocents. Bad people. Crime. Mistakes. Bad Luck. And it all ends up in a furball at the end. But the resulting chaos is merely the destination; it's the journey that's ultimately so fascinating.

Our protagonist the taxidermist, yes taxidermist, is one of the most well realized and distinct characters I've seen. He's unique in many way, yet so ordinary in others. It's this combination of qualities that makes him believable. His fantasies are common, and the potential realization of those fantasies drives him, though slowly. He's no hero, no superman, not even one of those who "rises above" to save the day. In fact, most of the time, he's just barely getting by. The fact that we're always afraid the next botched move he makes will be his last is what keeps us watching.

The rest of the characters are interesting as well, even the guy we never see alive. Each have their blind spot, each their purpose and ambition. Each has their own, appropriate, even justifiable conclusion. While they may be stereotypical, and I say may because I don't live in Argentina, they never become mere caricatures.

It's hard to continue this without giving something away. If you enjoy noir, enjoy tragic comedy, check this one out.

The Good: A new noir from way down south

The Bad: Hunting taxidermists

The Ugly: The inevitable Hollywood remake