PROPER EYES

Directed By: Liliana Paolinelli

Review By: Kim Jindra

Although PROPER EYES was an interesting look at peculiarities of the Argentinian penal system, for me, the story just did not ring true.

The set up, two girls working on a documentary about the families of inmates, was credible but then things begin to slowly fall apart.  I thought the girls should have been suspect of Elsa from the minute she approaches them about her son, but especially after they travel to her house for a pre-arranged interview and she rejects them.  And they do this more than once.  Another red flag should have been Elsa asking Ana to ditch her camerawoman. 

No student so desperate for an interview subject that she would risk her safety.  I know.  I was a journalist in college and if I didn't feel comfortable about a feature story I decided to do then I changed the idea.  No one forced the two girls to do the prison inmate documentary.  I certainly didn't buy Ana could have empathy or sympathy for either Mother Elsa or her son.  I just don't like movies where smart people behave stupidly.  It is irritating. 

But I did learn something in this film.  I never knew Argentinian prisons let guests into the cells.  I also found it interesting that other prisoners were not screaming as Ana walked down the hall leading to the cell.  The explanation that prison officials would empty the prisoners into the exercise yard so one prisoner could have privacy for his visit felt like a bit of a stretch.  I also thought the strip search was melodramatic and too drawn out.

This movie felt written, moved agonizingly slow and seemed much longer than its 80 minute running time.