In this acclaimed 1986 drama from Argentina, a man suddenly appears in a Buenos Aires mental hospital, claiming to be a visitor from another planet. Written and directed by Eliseo Subiela, Man Facing Southeast feels like a cinematic equivalent to the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, being a visually lyrical film with a heavy helping of religious allegory. Rantes, played with an enigmatic serenity by Hugo Soto, is clearly insane according to the overwhelmed but committed Dr. Julio Denis (Lorenzo Quinteros), but he also has a genius IQ and (apparently) psychic abilities (or is he performing minor miracles?), and the other patients treat him as a savior. Subiela has it both ways, providing convincing evidence of both Rantes's mortal history as a troubled man and his inexplicable abilities and otherworldly moments that suggest an origin not of this world. The title comes from Rantes's ritual of stepping into the courtyard every day to silently face southeast and stare into the sky, ostensibly to communicate with home. An award winner at film festivals around the world (it also swept the Argentinean Film Critics awards), extras here include cast and crew interviews, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Man Facing Southeast
Kino Lorber, 108 min., in Spanish w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $34.99 Volume 32, Issue 2
Man Facing Southeast
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