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PROPER EYES

(Por Sus Propios Ojos)

Starring: Ana Carabajal, Mara Santucho, Luisa Nunez and Maximiliano Gallo

Directed by: Liliana Paolinelli

Unrated

In Spanish with English Subtitles

By John Delia

Entering a world that is seldom seen by the camera, Paolinelli takes us on a dramatic look at prisoners through the eyes of a documenter in Proper Eyes, an interesting docudrama that’s unsettling while it entertains. If you like films that depict the edgier side of life, then don’t miss this film.

For her college thesis, film student Alicia (Carabajal), along with her best friend Virginia (Santucho), sets out to make a documentary about women in the lives of prisoners at a local jail. The only problem is no one is willing to be interviewed on camera. Along comes Elsa (Núñez), a desperate woman, whose son, Luis (Gallo), has recently been arrested for a petty crime. Elsa will grant Alicia an interview, only if she visits Luis in jail. Alicia feels this is blackmail and tries to get

out of it, but reluctantly agrees to Elsa's proposition. When Alicia's visits Luis in jail, her world collapses.

The movie, a mix of documentary and fiction is touching yet disturbing as it works its way through some very thought-provoking moments. With local jails holding both misdemeanor and major crime inmates, women visitors are still allowed into the cells but only after thorough searches. If you are not a relative of a prisoner it is almost impossible to enter their world to get the data needed for a thesis. Determined to make her film, Alicia finds herself traveling to Elsa’s home on a number of occasions only to get a weak excuse as a refusal to be filmed on camera. Over and over again, Alicia returns to her house until she finally sees a ray of hope when Elsa makes a bargain with her that is not only challenging but also dangerous.

The acting by Carabajal and Nunez is extremely good with the two of them occupying most of the screen time. I was especially enamored with the believability of Nunez’s character that is crafty and coy. Directing her with a cunning hand Paolinelli allows us to see the trappings of the woman as she sucks Alicia into her world and feeds on her sense of compassion.

The film is unrated but deals with adult situations, language and a scene of partial nudity. The movie was filmed in Spanish and has English subtitles.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film for fans of the edgier side of life. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)