A surprise hit at the 2003 Melbourne Film Festival,
Balnearios is a stylish and clever comedy that pokes fun at the peculiar Argentine customs surrounding the summer holiday, which every year sees tens of thousands of city dwellers descend upon quiet seaside towns.
Told in four episodes using a nature doco-style voiceover, we first see 1950s Super-8 colour home movies where old women and men bathe in the sea with old-fashioned swimsuits. Fast forward to the present, and we meet characters such as the lifeguard, corn-seller, and the swarms of city-tourists in their Bermuda shorts on a night out by the beach.
Between laughter and nostalgia, Llinás doesn't shoot beautifully shaped bodies or fashion models; he prefers big-bellied men and old fat women with wrinkled skin. The last episode presents Zucco, a great countryside artist, and member of each political, cultural and sport association of his town.
Balnearios is a refreshing breeze and a totally different experience in Argentine cinema, showcasing a great new talent in the Argentine section.
