Silence is a Falling Body

Silence is a Falling Body (El Silencio es un Cuerpo Que Cae) 2* (2018) DVD: colleges and universities w/ PPR: $350; K-12: $145; public libraries: $145; film w/ PPR and DSL for 3 years: $499. Pragda.com.  In Spanish with English subtitles.  In this film from Argentina, Augustina Comedi narrates the story of her late father Jaime Comedi, who lived his young adult life during a time in the 1970s when society was rigid and one could be prosecuted for homosexuality.  Activism was risky.  Aids was unheard of and Jaime led a gay life.  In 1991 Jaime gave up his friends, saying he wanted to start a family.  Jaime married Monona and fathered his daughter Augustina.  Capturing personal interviews with Jamie’s comrades and relatives as well as using videos that her father produced of friends and family, Augustina attempts to present a full picture of her father.  Augustina learns from family that the young Jaime was thought of as being different.  People even told him he was special, and, a psychic related he would not live long.  At sixteen Jamie was kicked out of a Juvenile Police School for being gay; it turned out his partner was the judge and this judge later funded law school for Jamie.  As an adult Jamie led both a secretive life enjoying the brothels and a professional life working as a lawyer.  Jaime and his gay friends traveled extensively-- enjoying life-- but also living in fear of being caught out.  Jamie’s long-time partner and friend died of AIDS in 1993.  Abruptly, the film ends with a family get together and Jamie riding out on a horse – he suffers an accident and dies.  While this is an interesting biographical film about a man with warm family ties and one who was bisexual during a different time in Argentinian society, it lacks smoothness in delivery, cinematography, and theme.  Optional.  Aud: H, C, P. (T. Root)