Argentine Film Festival 2012

The Last Elvis (2021)

Carlos Gutierrez has spent his entire life emulating Elvis; his daughter is even named Lisa Marie. But now Carlos is about to turn 42, the same age Elvis was when he died, and that realisation forces Carlos to confront the next stage of his life without the King's guidance. "It's very funny one minute and then as sad as you can get the next,” says Booth. “John McInerny, who plays Carlos, does all his own singing, and if you close your eyes, you'll swear it's actually Elvis."

Aballay, the Man Without Fear (2010)

Years ago, Aballay killed a man in cold blood. The look on the face of the victim's son left him shaken, and caused him to give up his life as a thieving, murdering gaucho. But even though he's now a local hero and a man of peace, he knows that boy is coming for revenge. "It’s a Western in the gaucho sense. Anybody who sees this film will, I suspect, be booking a ticket to the north of Argentina, because the scenery is sensational.”

In the Open (2011)

During a week-long holiday in the countryside with her husband and daughter, Elisa begins to feel the sensation that there's something wrong with her perfect life. Her husband feels like a stranger and her daughter suddenly seems so fragile. “It's a very subtle story, and becomes hypnotic as it unfolds,” says Booth. “It's a very abstract, quiet take on the psychological thriller.”

The Chosen Heaven (2010)

Victor Gonzalez’s drama follows Pablo, a young Catholic priest who wants to leave his parish, but doesn't know how. “There’s a heavy noir influence in this one, it's very different to the other films in the lineup,” says Booth.

The Finger (2011)

For the first time since the dissolution of the military government, a small town must elect a mayor. The problem is they have no idea how to do so, so they look to a magical, severed finger kept in a jar for guidance. “This film was made in the Argentinean province of Cordoba, which has a unique sense of humour.” Booth explains. “It's hilarious, and surprisingly topical.”

Acacias (2011)

The 1,500km journey along the motorway between Asuncion del Paraguay and Buenos Aires is arduous, a fact about to be learned by the truck driver giving a lift to a young mother and her baby. Pablo Giorgelli’s poignant and very human tale won the Camera D’Or at Cannes. “This will be a highlight of the festival. It's a road movie with subtlety, and it's done very well in France.”

Golden Pipe (2010)

Julito and Clara meet amid the everyday violence of working-class Buenos Aires. Acting on the advice of a horoscope, they spontaneously embark on a liberating journey into the wild. “This one’s a very rough and ready, down-to-earth love story. We're not doing a big closing night event, so this is a great way to end the festival. It's very real.”