Alanis (2017) User Reviews

argentinian realism

[ops-52535 · 6/10 · 18 February 2019]

I usually never watch spanish languated fils, so this was an exception for me, its the language barriere that makes me choose different, and by choosing this film, i do see that i am missing some good piece of moviemaking.

its a film about a single mum and her fatherless baby boy, making a living from selling herself in the rough and dark backalleys of buenos aires.

its a film filled with realism and struggle to survive in a country that have less welfare goodies than norway.its an interesting thing to observe that to be a prostitute in argentina or norway or on cuba ,its all the same, there are nigerians whereever you go. its a rough life anyhow, and the character of this movie is not unique. poor baby growing up like this, even have to share the boobie with grown up men and thelike. its hard to see and accept.

sofia gala who plays the role of alanis, does a piece of acting you seldomly see in , for instance, american fliks over such issues. the interaction between mum and child are teardrippingly astonishing, and very well acted, its worth the ticket alone to see such appearences. the worst though were the ''rapelike'' session near the end of the film, ravaging and brutal, but needs to be done to survive till next day.

the grumpy old man do recommend this film, if you need an alternative to the mainstream '' this is the real world'' hollywood productions.

A few days in the life.

[ocosis · 5/10 · 17 July 2021]

A few days in the life of a Buenos Aires mother, struggling to balance her work as a local prostitute, with making ends meet. It's well acted, shot, and for me, a realistic 'slice of life' modern day drama.

Ending?

[dwer-27479 · 6/10 · 3 May 2020]

The movie it's good but where is the ending? Since like there have a part 2 or what?

Intriguing and Authentic Glimpse of Buenos Aires Underworld

[Blue-Grotto · 8/10 · 9 October 2017]

Sunlight and fresh air streaming through a little window, clinging to the back of a motorcycle as it threads the city streets and the laughter of her baby boy; little things that bring Alanis such joy. She sorely needs it. Inconsistent and unbalanced prostitution laws and predatory law enforcers punish the very people they should help. The camera follows Alanis and her son Dante as they are forced to the street, seek shelter with a kind yet preachy relative, try to find a little space for themselves in territory jealously guarded by others in the same line of work, and suffer other indignities. Alanis is a determined survivor though, she treasures the light when it comes and if anyone can get through such times, it is her.

The film provides a valuable and intriguing glimpse into the underworld of Buenos Aires where immigrants are lured with false promises, bad laws and law enforcers rule, and vulnerable people such as Alanis have few and dismal choices available. Dante is the real-life son of the film's main actor. This relationship brings authenticity and magic to each scene between mother and son. While there could be more depth to the dialogue and certain scenes should be expanded upon, Alanis is a wonderful, genuine and insightful film. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

A Paradise For Realist Fans - One Hell Of A Bore For Others

[TheAnimalMother · 8/10 · 22 November 2022]

Not nearly everyone will like this film. Some people will find it to be a very powerful film, while others will find it little more than a complete bore. There is a story/plot, but not much of one really. It's basically just a consecutive observation of a person trying to survive on her own terms over a few days. This is an extreme realist character study, and in all truth, it's probably the most realistic character study I've ever seen, and I've seen literally thousands of films. The lead actress uses her real one and a half year old son as her character's son in the film, and this is truly marvelous to a film lover like myself. Of course this made these scenes between the two ultra authentic, and these scenes are undeniably beautiful. What is captured here to me was so powerful. The film really is about Alanis and her son, at least to me it is pretty much entirely. Even apart from the scenes between Alanis and her son, the lead actress is phenomenal here. She's been acting for over 10 years before this film and won awards, including now the Argentinean Academy Award for Best Actress for this very film, and the Argentinian Critics Choice Award as well.

People may notice in my reviews and lists that I'm a huge fan of realist film, and this one really grabbed me. I honestly feel that Alanis, as imperfect of a character as she is, she is still somehow among the most inspiring female characters I've ever seen, or read, or even heard of. I'm not sure that many people would feel this way however, I'm fairly sure I'm in the extreme minority in this. Nevertheless, I loved the film, and I found the film and character to be very inspiring. To me, films like these make most Hollywood films seem painfully boring, predictable and horribly overdramatic. Films like these also thankfully keep inspiring me to embrace real life and the real world, which I think is so important in these modern times. So many people become detached from reality in ways simply because they've lost sight of the beauty that is in it, and the amazing miracle that it is. Yes, our world is ugly, ugly as hell in a sense, but there is an entirely other beautiful side as well. To loose sight of this is to find your own personal sort of hell, as was described by Milton. Paradise Lost.

**If you have yet to see the film. I would caution you not to read this last paragraph of my review.**

The film does not tell us everything about Alanis and why she does what she does exactly. However I personally found that this is the best way to present this story/film, brilliant really. To me the film becomes somewhat profound because even though it's impossible from what we know to entirely like Alanis and agree with her, it also seemed at least for me, impossible to root against her. Why is it hard to root against her? Simply because it is impossible not to see that she genuinely loves her child...and the child loves her too of course. In this sense, the film is incredibly powerful and inspiring. However, most viewers may not even see this at all. The thing there is, if we did know her entire story and understood all of her motivations, would we not want something else for her here? Probably! The more we know, the more questions we'd have of why she didn't do something else. That's part of the magic of the way this story is told. We can't fairly judge her entirely, so we don't question so much why she does what she does. We just hope for her and the boy to find a safe place to land.

8/10.

A powerful story of a woman trying to have agency for her own life

[vampire_hounddog · 8/10 · 7 November 2020]

In Buenos Aries, Alanis is a prostitute (Sofia Gala Castiglione) kicked out of her apartment for soliciting and moves into her nearby aunt's (Dana Basso) with her 1 year-old son. She continues to struggle to get by and is drawn back into prostitution.

Anahi Berneri's film observes the events as a voyeur that makes no judgements and displays the survival of someone who lives under the radar on the margins of society. Yet, all the way through she still tries to cling on to having agency of her own decisions, despite what others think or what society tells her.

The struggles of a sex worker, without melodrama.

[stuka24 · 9/10 · 10 March 2018]

Female director Anahí Berneri and screenwriter Javier V. made a great film, both real and hopeful, about "Alanis"/ María, a sex worker with a child. The film has her onscreen most of the time, she's so natural one forgets it's a movie.

The sleazy ambience, duplicitous relative, treacherous tenant, disgusting client, dangerous client, violent rival immigrant sex workes, it seems almost nobody is even fair to Alanis. What I liked about the film 1) Sofia Gala's acting 2) photography 3) plot 4) catchy music 5) it shows the reality of "la puta calle" while at the same time offering us a glimpse of hope, some beauty behind the cheap everything. The scene of A. having fun with Dante at the concrete half circle, almost the only moment we see her smile.

Loved the ending.

Finding one's place may take ages. Some never really gets there. Alanis, even clumsily, finds a room with a view, or something like it.

IMDB reviewer Raven-1969 is right that the role of the state and law enforcers is more like thugs than people that could help or at least be of some use to vulnerable people like A. It's a game the film makes with us that whenever she is asked about the name "like the singer, right?" she doesn't answer. She doesn't care, her identity is elswhere. Sometimes while she looks at her eyes in the mirror of a client's dashboard vanity mirror for instance.

Sofia Castiglione is a force to be reckoned with, thanks to intelligent direction. I am looking forward to watch new work both by director and actress.

Abdulla

[abdullasalh-70433 · 9/10 · 16 November 2023]

Yas. Yas you guys can go in a bit if you're interested or want or not so I'm sure you'll get to do something on Saturday if that's not a big thing or anything for me to come to you too and I'll come to my moms if not I'll let her go and then come to me and I'll go get it to come and I'll come get me a few of you I'll come get me a few more and I'll come get me and come to trees I'll be here if I'll come get you something or not I don't want to go back here if I'll come get me a drink if you're like I'll come get you if you get a chance come get me something if you get something if you're here I'll get it if.