POINT
Trailer
Synopsis
Marcelo has dedicated his life to teaching philosophy at the Public University of Buenos Aires. When his mentor, Professor Caselli, dies unexpectedly, Marcelo hopes to become the new head of the department. However, his plans change with the unexpected arrival of Rafael Sujarchuk. Charismatic and seductive, Rafael returns from his pedestal in European universities to claim the vacant position for himself. Marcelo's clumsy efforts to prove that he is the right candidate will trigger a philosophical duel, as his life - and the country - spiral into chaos.
Film sheet
Marcelo has dedicated his life to teaching philosophy at the Public University of Buenos Aires. When his mentor, Professor Caselli, dies unexpectedly, Marcelo hopes to become the new head of the department. However, his plans change with the unexpected arrival of Rafael Sujarchuk. Charismatic and seductive, Rafael returns from his pedestal in European universities to claim the vacant position for himself. Marcelo's clumsy efforts to prove that he is the right candidate will trigger a philosophical duel, as his life - and the country - spiral into chaos.
LANGUAGES): Spanish
SUBTITLE: 2023- World Premiere – Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
COUNTRY(S): Argentina, Italy, France, Germany, Brazil
PREMIER TYPE: Regional Premiere
SECTION: Hispanic Looks
DIRECTOR(S): María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat
PRODUCER(S): Federico Eibuszyc, Barbara Sarasola-Day, Barbara Mendivil
SCREENWRITER(S): María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Helene Louvart
EDITOR: Livia Serpa
MUSIC: Santiago Dolan
CONTACT: Luxbox
DISTRIBUTION: Marcelo Subiotto, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Julieta Zylberberg, Alejandra Flechner, Andrea Frigerio, Mara
Director's Statement
M.A.: The first thing that came up was to make a film for Marcelo Subiotto. We were seduced by the idea of writing something for him. It is not usual to start with the actor, but that is how it was. We did know that he had to have some comedic tone. Only then did we begin to think about the universe of Philosophy, which in some way is familiar to both of us and we know it from different perspectives. And then the drift of the script took us to other places, the writing itself surprised us. B.N. The idea was Puan, which is not only Philosophy and Letters from the UBA but a whole very particular microworld. We were also interested in the building, which was a cigarette factory and therefore has an industrial imprint. Inside you are thinking about the meaning of the world, of living. We look for a counterpoint between what is being thought there and the reality of the space with its bizarre architecture. Marcelo (Subiotto) and María (Alché) went through Puan's classrooms, so it is a very familiar and close place. Furthermore, my father teaches Philosophy at the UBA, although at another faculty. B.N.: Before filming we had considered dividing the scenes, but in the last days of pre-production we realized that none of us wanted to miss anything, because we were happy to be filming, so we spent the entire time doing everything. That forces you to think three times as much as you would have thought from that lonely and tyrannical place that directing a film usually is.
Festivals and awards
M.A.: The first thing that came up was to make a film for Marcelo Subiotto. We were seduced by the idea of writing something for him. It is not usual to start with the actor, but that is how it was. We did know that he had to have some comedic tone. Only then did we begin to think about the universe of Philosophy, which in some way is familiar to both of us and we know it from different perspectives. And then the drift of the script took us to other places, the writing itself surprised us. B.N. The idea was Puan, which is not only Philosophy and Letters from the UBA but a whole very particular microworld. We were also interested in the building, which was a cigarette factory and therefore has an industrial imprint. Inside you are thinking about the meaning of the world, of living. We look for a counterpoint between what is being thought there and the reality of the space with its bizarre architecture. Marcelo (Subiotto) and María (Alché) went through Puan's classrooms, so it is a very familiar and close place. Furthermore, my father teaches Philosophy at the UBA, although at another faculty. B.N.: Before filming we had considered dividing the scenes, but in the last days of pre-production we realized that none of us wanted to miss anything, because we were happy to be filming, so we spent the entire time doing everything. That forces you to think three times as much as you would have thought from that lonely and tyrannical place that directing a film usually is.
San Sebastián International Film Festival – Official Selection – Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance – 2023 Athens International Film Festival – Opening Nights – 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival – Panorama – 2023 International Film Festival of São Paulo Cinema – Brazil Show – 2023 La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival – International Competition – Ciné+ Grand Prize of the International Jury – 2023 Vienna – Features – 2023 Ljubljana International Film Festival – Focus: Argentina – 2023 Film Week of the University of Lima – International Exhibition – 2023 FILMAR in Latin America – Focus Sud – 2023 FICVIÑA – Latin American Fiction Feature Film Competition – 2023.
MARÍA ALCHÉ and BENJAMÍN NAISHTAT
Maria Alché is an Argentine director, screenwriter and actress. She studied film at ENERC, where she teaches directing actors. She studies Philosophy at the University of Buenos Aires. She directed the short films Noelia, Gulliver, Invierno 3025 and ¿Who messed with Mayra?, presented at several international film festivals. He wrote and directed the feature film Familia Sumergida, starring Mercedes Morán, which won best film at Horizontes Latinos at the San Sebastián Festival, best debut feature at the Gotteborg Festival, best direction at Ficunam, best script at the Lima Festival, and It was presented at the Locarno, Havana, Lincoln Center NY, Jeonju and Viennale Festivals, among others. She is currently developing her new project at the Ikusmira Berriak 2023 residence I love you and today everything is beautiful and she is writing the documentary Chocobar by Lucrecia Martel.
BENJAMIN NAISHTAT Benjamín Naishtat studied film at the Universidad del Cine, Buenos Aires. Additionally, he participated in the Contemporary Art program at Le Fresnoy, France, and received a Radcliffe/Film Studies Center fellowship from Harvard University. He wrote and directed Rojo (2018), selected in the Official Competition of the San Sebastián Film Festival, awarded the Silver Shell for Best Director, Best Photography and Best Actor for Darío Grandinetti. Benjamin wrote and directed The Movement (2015) with support from the Jeonju Film Festival, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. The film won Best Argentine Film at the Mar del Plata Festival and the Jury Prize at the Valdivia Festival. Benjamín wrote and directed Historia del Miedo (2014), premiered in the Official Competition of the Berlinale. He is currently working on the adaptation of Los Siete Locos, by Roberto ArIt.
Director's Filmography
MARÍA ALCHÉ Puán – 2023
A submerged family – 2018
BENJAMÍN NAISHTAT Puán – 2023
Red - 2018
The movement - 2015