| 232-6727 All screenings at
395, rue Wellington Street
National Archives Auditorium
Archives nationales du canada FREE PARKING |  | The Canadian Film Institute is proud to present its 11th annual showcase of the cinemas of Latin America. All films are Ottawa premieres. Fri./ven., March 30 mars, 19:00 ARGENTINA
JEWS IN SPACE OR WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER NIGHTS?
Director: Gabriel Lichtmann Argentina 2005, 89 minutes
SPACE, by Gabriel Lichtmann, is a brilliant, unconventional comedy that captures the eclectic realities of a Jewish family in contemporary Argentina. Set in Buenos Aires, it portrays the dynamic impact family reunions, such as Passover, can have on certain members of the family. Characters include three jealous sisters, a suicidal
grandfather, a kleptomaniac niece, and Santiago, who is in love with his own cousin. SPACE offers an array of peculiar yet comical scenarios that leave us questioning our own family values and give new meaning to the traditional Passover question, "Why is this night different from all the other nights?" English sub-titles. Sat./sam. March 31 mars, 19:00 BRAZIL
THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
Director: Carlos Diegues Brazil 2006, 106 minutes.
A lonely bachelor, Antonio is a famous and successful Brazilian astrophysicist who has spent most of his adult life in the United States. Now at age 55, he discovers that he has a fatal brain tumor and decides to return to his native land to receive a last official tribute. While in Rio de Janeiro, Antonio goes to an old age home to visit his adoptive father. On learning that Antonio is soon to die the father confesses he knows who Antonio’s biological mother was and gives him a few clues about his birth. Antonio follows the clues to the Rio de Janeiro lowlands, where his real mother is said to have lived and died. There he meets Zezé, the best friend of his deceased mother, and learns he was born on the day when Brazil lost the World Cup to Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium. The past is opening up To Antonio, but will he die before he learns the truth? Winner of the Best Picture Award, 2006 Montreal World Film Festival. English sub-titles. Sun./dim. April 1 avril, 19:00 CHILE
CACHIMBA
Director: Silvio Caiozzi Chile 2004, 127 minutes.
This comedy is full of the misadventures of Marcos, an insignificant middle-aged banker torn between his love of art and his almost obsessive thoughts about his plump girlfriend, Hilda. In his attempt to materialize this dream, Marcos convinces her to go with him to a mid-winter weekend getaway to a desolate beach resort. Atop an oceanfront hill, he discovers the true meaning of his existence. Master Chilean filmmaker Silvio Caiozzi’s latest work is a sophisticated comedy about the art of love and also the love of art, but not necessarily in that order. English sub-titles. Mon./lun. April 2 avril, 19:00 COLOMBIA
HISTORY OF THE PINK TRUNK
Director: Libia Stella Gomez Colombia 2005, 97 minutes.
An ambitious period piece, set in 1940s Bogata, HISTORY recounts the true-crime history of a woman who was found dead in a trunk at a train station in Bogata. The case is assigned to detective Corzo who is constantly met with resistance from yellow journalist Mosquera. There is something mysterious about the case and the unidentified dead girl, as it seems Mosquera is trying to sabotage the solving of the crime at every turn. He publishes a false account of the colour of the trunk the girl was found in, claiming it was pink when in fact it was brown and wooden. With the help of a bartender, Corzo will be led down a strange path toward the identity of the girl and reason behind her murder. English subtitles. Tues./mardi April 3 avril, 19:00 CUBA
VIVA CUBA
Director: Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti Cuba 2005, 80 minutes.
In a tale akin to “Romeo and Juliet,” the friendship between two children is threatened by their parents’ differences. Malú is from an upper-class family and her single mother does not want her to play with Jorgito, as she thinks his background coarse and commonplace. Jorgito’s mother, a poor socialist proud of her family’s social standing, places similar restrictions on her son. What neither woman recognizes is the immense strength of the bond between Malú and Jorgito. VIVA CUBA is a wonderful, fresh film for all ages. It touches upon many of Cuba’s contentious issues in a frank and honest manner. This is a nation in flux and, while his approach is skilled and affectionate, Cremata Malberti does not shy away from asking difficult questions. English sub-titles. Wed./mer. April 4 avril, 19:00 MEXICO
DUCK SEASON
Director: Fernando Eimbcke Mexico 2004, 87 minutes
Flama and Moko are fourteen years old; they have been best friends since they were kids. They have everything they need to survive yet another boring Sunday: an apartment without parents, videogames, porn magazines, soft drinks and pizza delivery. The electricity company, Rita, the neighbor, Ulises, a pizza deliveryman, eleven seconds, the Real Madrid-Manchester game, some chocolate brownies and a horrible painting of ducks, all combine to break the harmony of what promised to be a placid Sunday, and reveal issues such as the parents' divorce, loneliness, the confusion between adolescent love and friendship, as well as frustration in adult life. DUCK SEASON is an offbeat gem. English sub-titles. Wed./mer. April 4 avril, 21:00 VENEZUELA
1888: THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE OF THE SANTA ISABEL
Director: Alfredo J. Anzola Venezuela 2005, 95 minutes.
1888: THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE OF THE SANTA ISABEL is a whimsical adventure fantasy about a tired Jules Verne, fleeing from Paris and a bored wife, who joins Italian explorer Stradelli in an expedition on the Orinoco River. Along the way they pickup a young stranger- a woman disguised as a man, searching for her lost father. Selected as the official Venezuelan entry to the 2005 Academy Awards, in the Best Foreign Film category. English sub-titles Thurs./jeu April 5 avril, 19:00 URUGUAY
14 Days In Paradise
Director: Bill Marks Uruguay-Canada 2007, 87 minutes.
Ten years ago, Alex Johnson was on top of the world as the most popular member of a famous boy-band. These days however, Alex’s star doesn’t shine so high or so bright and while his career falls apart, the only thing holding him together is his up-coming marriage to Verónica, a Uruguayan beauty queen. But when Alex and his parents, Al and Barbara, travel to his winter home in beautiful Punta del Este, things fall apart in a very bad way when Al winds up in bed with Verónica. A charming, madcap comedy about cold hearts in the heat of Uruguayan sun 14 DAYS IN PARADISE is two weeks you’ll never forget. English sub-titles. Filmmakers will be in attendance.
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