Tan de repente. (Suddenly) 

Reviewed by Rafael Ocasio, Agnes Scott Coll, Decafur, GA -- Críticas, 6/15/2008

(Argentina, 2002) b&w. Spanish (English subtitles). 94 mins. Empire Pictures & First Run Features. 2007. DVD. $26.98. DRAMA

This Argentine film by Diego Lerman (b. 1976) shows an unusual love story involving three peculiar characters. Marcia, a young woman from a rural town, works as a clerk in a clothing store in a working-class neighborhood outside the glitzy city of Buenos Aires. Her monotonous daily routine suddenly comes to a halt when two young women, Mao and Lenin, kidnap her and embark on an adventure that takes them to the sea (Marcia had never seen the ocean) in a stolen taxi. In travelog mode, the road trip takes them to the city of Rosario, where one of the characters faces a family secret. Although not clearly stated, the secret involves the possibility that her mother was also a lesbian—which explains why some family members rejected her. Loosely based on César Aira’s novel La prueba (“The Test”), the film offers a rare view at a lesbian friendship and issues related to bisexuality. The ending may disappoint the audience: it seems rather simplistic in such a complex storyline. Filmed in black and white with a very low budget, this film is hip enough to appeal a young audience. Recommended for collections on contemporary Argentine films. See more information about this subject in Video Collection Development.