Mini Review 1: El Angel


Luis Ortega’s El Angel is, simply put, an Argentinian Baby Driver. It’s interspersed dance sequences, subsequent lip-synced car scenes and numerous action shots give the film the edge against the other slow-paced films at Cannes. We are initially introduced to the baby-face Carlitos (Lorenzo Ferro) as he sneaks into a house, puts on a record and dances. The opening sequence’s bright typography, salsa music and vivid cinematography trick us into believing that the film will be a positive and feel-good experience. However, the film is intensely dark and filled with thievery, murder and betrayal. Carlitos is a sociopath and like all good pyschos he is adorably charming. His charisma reaches so far that his Bonnie and Cylde-esque spree draws in and wrecks entire groups of people. Ultimately, this Un Certain Regard masterpiece is one of the more Americanized films at the festival, yet is wholly original in terms of tone and style.  

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