I loved this film. Not just because I'm an (ex-)Argentine but because it just works. It is delightful, thought-provoking and bittersweet. The same themes we loved in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, the destruction of innocence, the quashing of independence/individuality and the gray, foggy area of mental illness-- are all present in this fine film. Alas, most American viewers will not be familiar with the fine cast but no matter. This is a film that should be watched and enjoyed. You don't have to stick into a Hollywood pigeonhole to appreciate the fine artwork. It will leave you with that same wistful feeling that have done so many other films touching on the institutionalizing of mental patients-- with the possible exception of Harvey.
43 Reviews
Very good movie. Look beneath the surface.
bodomo26 November 2002
Those who complain about this movie being "depressing" and full of unanswered questions miss the point. An intelligent viewer must look beneath the surface; there's a clever story and a set of plot twists that await whomever is willing to make the minimum effort required to do that.
The movie keeps the viewer's interest by using a series of cinematic devices and by raising questions. The important ones get answered all right, while some unimportant ones are left open. Subiela himself admitted later that there is no real reason for Beatriz's changes of shoes, or for the blue liquid coming out of her mouth. But the central theme remains that of a man that approaches sainthood (note the numerous parallels with the story of Christ) by just doing what is logical---not out of any belief from a contrived moral system.
The movie keeps the viewer's interest by using a series of cinematic devices and by raising questions. The important ones get answered all right, while some unimportant ones are left open. Subiela himself admitted later that there is no real reason for Beatriz's changes of shoes, or for the blue liquid coming out of her mouth. But the central theme remains that of a man that approaches sainthood (note the numerous parallels with the story of Christ) by just doing what is logical---not out of any belief from a contrived moral system.
A thought provoking movie
gga14 October 2001
This is the movie that brought recognition for the first time to Eliseo Subiela. Many times described as "ET" for adults, that cliche is both accurate and misleading. As I write this, a movie with an identical premise is being advertised in the States (K-PAX). I hope lawyers have a field day. The mysterious patient Ramses, who has suddenly appeared in this Argentinian clinic, is convinced to have come from another world. Capable of rational thought and of an apparent high IQ, a doctor begins a treatment to cure him from his dellusion. But does he need to be cured? Isn't the doctor more insane that his patient? Haven't we forgotten what it means to live and enjoy life? The movie moves slowly, but keeps itself interesting. The dialogue is sometimes too academical to be believable (even in Spanish), but its intentions are more powerful than the presentation. Except for Beethoven's Ode to Joy sequence, the movie is not very cinematic, but once again, it never feels to drag. The depiction of the asylum is also one of those you won't see in your typical Hollywood movie: as we see how the dead corpses of the inmates are carried over to be used for medical studies.
Just in case...
akutagawa3 February 2003
I don't normally bother to write comments like this but I was shocked by the other reviewer's perspective. I think perhaps he likes things spoonfed to him. Regardless, this is a fairly obscure film. It's Argentinian. It's a so-called "art movie". It doesn't feature any well known actors. The plot and many of the scenes were reproduced in the recent Hollywood version. Several other scenes have been lifted wholesale and used in other Hollywood movies. That alone suggests that the movie has merit (particularly in terms of story and direction). Over and above that, the acting is very good, and the pace, while slow, builds inexorably. There is no succinct resolution to the plot. That is the point. You have to think for yourself and it is a deeply thought provoking story. I think the central theme is a meditation on thought defining reality and seems to reference the Buddhist belief that our lives are a creation of our minds. But like any good work of art there are many layers open to interpretation. There are no overt references but this being an Argentinian affair, the tone of the movie reminded me of Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares. It's philosophical, and quite surreal in places. Some of the scenes are straight out of a Goya painting, and some of the camera motions are so graceful- almost imperceptible sometimes- that I thought of Kubrick. There's an awful lot going for this film. I don't want to ruin the story for anyone but I do rate it very highly.
Moving and Fiercely Intelligent
Twillhead9 June 1999
An outspoken, gifted stranger suddenly "appears" at an insane asylum, claiming to be from another planet. Each day he stands in the open yard facing southeast to receive telepathic messages from his home. His presence has a profound effect upon the psychologist who is treating him for his delusions. But is the patient REALLY delusional? Or could his extraordinary story be quite possibly true? That is the crux of "Man Facing Southeast", a remarkable apologue from Argentina concerning sanity and madness, Heaven and Hell, faith and incredulity, presented with unmitigated perspicacity and intelligence. The film never talks down to its audience, and its message is delivered with a clarity that is both subtle and stunning. Warm, touching, and inspirational, it is firmly entrenched in my personal Top Five "Favorite Films of All Time" list. Apparently first-time viewers should be certain to rent or purchase the subtitled version and NOT the English-dubbed version.
Wonderful movie, especially if taken in historical context
morgan-5119 February 2000
I think that the question, "Is he really from outer space?" is irrelevent to the movie--what matters is that the man, Renates, is completely foreign. It's not a feel-good movie, it's a thought-provoking movie, one that brings up the question, why is compassion so foriegn to us, and why do we fear the compassionate? Those with power (the doctors) are so afraid to lose that power that they force their subjects into a forgetful stupor and deny their humanity--just as the military under Videla and the junta tortured over 30,000 people only two decades ago. This film is a brilliant commentary on human nature and modern Argentine history.
Nontraditional, worthwhile sci-fi
dfranzen7012 February 2019
I got this for Christmas, but I couldn't remember why I'd wanted to see it. Let's just say it's sort of a cult classic. It's an existential sci-fi movie about a strange man who just shows up at an asylum, claiming to be from another planet. (And eventually he teaches us all about ourselves - kidding.) It's exceptionally well done, particularly in the performance by Hugo Soto as the patient. And while the ending may not be satisfying to people looking for answers to questions of where, why, and how, the journey is never dull and often quite exhilarating. This is a pensive, slow-developing movie, and as long as you don't expect traditional sci-fi (heck, the entire movie takes place on Earth!), you might find this as worthwhile as I did.
Face towards it
hte-trasme31 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
"Hombre Mirando al Sudeste" is firstly quite a mesmerizing film; it seemed to take me about a third of its actual length to watch. This is doubtless owed in part to the very committed performances of Lorenzo Quinteros and Hugo Soto in the lead roles as well as to the often subtle, slightly distanced direction. Mainly, though, I think it's because the writer and director Eliseo Subiela makes the daring decision to set us a mystery (Is this patient in the mental hospital really the alien from space he believes himself to be?) and then as good as telling us that the mystery will not be solved because there can be no satisfactory solution.
This ambiguity becomes a quality of the film, as the potential-alien Rantes makes several observations about human society that raise questions - often quite big questions - rather than dictating answers. Why DON'T we give up our jackets when we meet someone colder? Why don;t many of us act to stop ourselves being unhappy? How do we determine what beliefs constitute the insane?
If one takes it on its level for the questions it wants to raise and appreciates it for its poetry it will well reward a viewing.
This ambiguity becomes a quality of the film, as the potential-alien Rantes makes several observations about human society that raise questions - often quite big questions - rather than dictating answers. Why DON'T we give up our jackets when we meet someone colder? Why don;t many of us act to stop ourselves being unhappy? How do we determine what beliefs constitute the insane?
If one takes it on its level for the questions it wants to raise and appreciates it for its poetry it will well reward a viewing.
The invention of Morel was quite right!
salgaras7 March 2005
Outdating an old and odd theme such as in Adolfo Bioy Casares' novel The invention of Morel is one of the most important achievements of this fantastic and frenetic movie. I saw it for the first time when I was at High School, over here in Mexico City, and I thought it was so complex even tough its simplicity. This is one of those movies you can see several times, and you'll always find something anew and odd within the fantastic Rantez' story. I think I liked so much because of the range of equality between the novel and the movie, even tough is not strictly an adaptation. I couldn't recommend this movie to anyone who does not comprehend this not a simple story -in the Aristoteles lines-up- Is a fiction among others. Is a kind of magic! An you need to be full of will to get trough.
Flawed Masterpiece
zevt19 March 2008
A mysterious man appears voluntarily in a lunatic asylum and one of the doctors becomes fascinated by him and his supposed delirium which may or may not be fact.
The man claims to be from outer space on a research project to study humans who's scariest attributes are stupidity and irrationality. For him, it is perfectly logical to be kind and giving to people in need, to listen, to enjoy life, etc. He soon becomes a Christ-like figure for the insane and the needy and he has many fascinating dialogues with the doctor where they spar:
The doctor struggles with his own skepticism, his disillusion with his profession, his sadness, humanity's flaws and the gnawing knowledge that the man surely must be crazy, and the patient weaves a complex and consistent background on his alien culture and thoughts, while criticizing humans for their blindness. It doesn't help us to decide either when the man displays telekinetic powers.
Soon, the man makes too much noise and the asylum's director decides to act. Then the man comes face to face with the dangers of humanity's folly and pride and the doctor finds himself between a rock and a hard place, like Pontius Pilate.
That's the plot. My personal opinion of this movie is that it's fascinating, everyone should see it once, but it's seriously flawed. I had a slight issue with the obvious fact that he claimed he had no feelings but reacts impassioned to music and once or twice flies into a rage when he rants about humanity. But this only proves that he is merely an insane human. Or does it?
But more importantly, I have a problem with this naive idea that rationality automatically means kindness. It depends on the goal. How does one conclude that being kind to everyone is the most logical behaviour? This is too simplistic. What about moral conflicts? What about self-neglect? What about people that abuse your kindness? What if your goals are simply to achieve pleasure? What if your only goal is to make Germany a prosperous and powerful country again after WWI?
I liked the themes. I liked the intelligent dialogue. I loved the use of music. But I can't help but feel this wasn't thought through enough and that the movie is taking an easy and lazy stance on good vs bad and preaching overly-simplistic morality.
The man claims to be from outer space on a research project to study humans who's scariest attributes are stupidity and irrationality. For him, it is perfectly logical to be kind and giving to people in need, to listen, to enjoy life, etc. He soon becomes a Christ-like figure for the insane and the needy and he has many fascinating dialogues with the doctor where they spar:
The doctor struggles with his own skepticism, his disillusion with his profession, his sadness, humanity's flaws and the gnawing knowledge that the man surely must be crazy, and the patient weaves a complex and consistent background on his alien culture and thoughts, while criticizing humans for their blindness. It doesn't help us to decide either when the man displays telekinetic powers.
Soon, the man makes too much noise and the asylum's director decides to act. Then the man comes face to face with the dangers of humanity's folly and pride and the doctor finds himself between a rock and a hard place, like Pontius Pilate.
That's the plot. My personal opinion of this movie is that it's fascinating, everyone should see it once, but it's seriously flawed. I had a slight issue with the obvious fact that he claimed he had no feelings but reacts impassioned to music and once or twice flies into a rage when he rants about humanity. But this only proves that he is merely an insane human. Or does it?
But more importantly, I have a problem with this naive idea that rationality automatically means kindness. It depends on the goal. How does one conclude that being kind to everyone is the most logical behaviour? This is too simplistic. What about moral conflicts? What about self-neglect? What about people that abuse your kindness? What if your goals are simply to achieve pleasure? What if your only goal is to make Germany a prosperous and powerful country again after WWI?
I liked the themes. I liked the intelligent dialogue. I loved the use of music. But I can't help but feel this wasn't thought through enough and that the movie is taking an easy and lazy stance on good vs bad and preaching overly-simplistic morality.
10, 10.
megan06611 May 2014
This is an extraordinary film and seems to remain in my top 3 or 5 for life. If you believe in humanity you will adore it - the way it should be. A man that behaves in a manner in which humans are supposed to - mysteriously shows up in a mental ward and all there are terribly enthralled and inspired by his Energy. I was too. There is a touch of sci fi in it which is quite interesting.
K PAK was an EXACT rip off of it. Just a lot of water added. Super cheap POOR version. I respect Kevin Spacey a lot and all I can say is, he must have been really broke at the time or his ethics are not what I wish them to be. I even own the poster for MAN FACING SOUTHEAST. At the time it was dubbed 'The E.T.for Adults.' It is an easy and pedestrian description but they are not entirely wrong. I wish more Americans saw this. Argentinian. Rent or buy. Indy category if you still have a video store - support it.
K PAK was an EXACT rip off of it. Just a lot of water added. Super cheap POOR version. I respect Kevin Spacey a lot and all I can say is, he must have been really broke at the time or his ethics are not what I wish them to be. I even own the poster for MAN FACING SOUTHEAST. At the time it was dubbed 'The E.T.for Adults.' It is an easy and pedestrian description but they are not entirely wrong. I wish more Americans saw this. Argentinian. Rent or buy. Indy category if you still have a video store - support it.
not so exciting to watch.
Hunky Stud4 January 2003
I read the summary, it sounds exciting, about aliens, etc.
The one that I watched was voice translated in English. The scenes are not new, it is always those few places through out the movie. And the actors are not nice to look at for a long time, either. :)
And at the end, I still was not sure if the guy was actually a lunatic or actually come from outer space. What about the woman who visited him?
The one that I watched was voice translated in English. The scenes are not new, it is always those few places through out the movie. And the actors are not nice to look at for a long time, either. :)
And at the end, I still was not sure if the guy was actually a lunatic or actually come from outer space. What about the woman who visited him?
Intelligent film, sadly plagiarized
adolfofrv27 October 2003
For those of you who have seen K-Pax, please watch this one. In 1986 Eliseo Subiela made this intriguing, intelligent film dealing with the human condition and its contradictions. It has long been known to spanish-speaking audiences, so it's a shame to see a pale copy like K-Pax being lauded (or at least being credited with the idea).
Moving and thoughtful
Rituci1 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Yes it does.
My first thought was that if they meant to picture a financially struggling institution, they did a perfect job: it looked so real with its dirty, cracked walls, plain furniture and doors in dire need of painting that it brought up my childhood memories about the hospital I've been in in the eighties.
I watched this movie in Spanish with no subtitles, so I don't know the dialogues, but they must be well good if they are half as good as the nonverbal parts, and there were so many great scenes with no words. My favourite one is when Rantes slides the plates in front of that poor hungry family (and you could see the mother really put her children first, they all looked better then herself), and his eye-communication was the icing on the cake.
Or when he walked past the security guard when he slipped out of the institute at night – he timed it so perfectly that he could be confident enough not even to need to rush much, and I liked the music in the scene as well.
I was very impressed with the acting throughout – of course Julio was bored and Rantes was unemotional for a reason. All the more uplifting the moment of Rantes and Beatriz starting to dance to the Ode of Joy was (and another music I like).
The boarding of the patients was outrageous – I can only hope it wasn't based on reality. Judging from their appearance, patients of various severity of disorders seemed to be dumped together, possibly having a bad effect on one another, their clothing was insufficient, they were fed from dogs' bowls, instead of the staff it was Rantes who noticed when they were cold, needed attention or more to eat, and he was all right exactly to the point until his treatment started. The procedure of turning this bright, well-meaning person into a mental and physical wreck was very well pictured and heartbreaking to watch.
One consolation for the similarities between the K-PAX movie (which, unfortunately, had parts added or altered from the book it was based on to make it similar to MFS, but its atmosphere is still different enough – especially regarding the state of the hospital and the way patients were treated – that it is worth watching) and this one is that it's good advertising for it. I only heard about, bought and watched MFS because it was mentioned in the K-PAX reviews, which is a real shame because it's better than the K-PAX movie (I gave it six stars in my review), and as good as the novel.
The scenes with the coffin and the brain are much slagged off as unnecessary but I think they couldn't have been better calculated. Handling of the bodies and the brain only turns rough after we learn Rantes is to get "medication", and so the scenes give us an idea how he would end up – just after he washes the brain down the drain come the injections and wash all the thoughts out of his brain.
But I think the disfigured faces suddenly popping up much earlier, after the scene of Rantes and Julio talking outside walking down stairs were completely unnecessary. The only part I hated – minus 1 star for including this regurgitated, cheap crappy horror-movie scare tactic trick in this great movie.
My first thought was that if they meant to picture a financially struggling institution, they did a perfect job: it looked so real with its dirty, cracked walls, plain furniture and doors in dire need of painting that it brought up my childhood memories about the hospital I've been in in the eighties.
I watched this movie in Spanish with no subtitles, so I don't know the dialogues, but they must be well good if they are half as good as the nonverbal parts, and there were so many great scenes with no words. My favourite one is when Rantes slides the plates in front of that poor hungry family (and you could see the mother really put her children first, they all looked better then herself), and his eye-communication was the icing on the cake.
Or when he walked past the security guard when he slipped out of the institute at night – he timed it so perfectly that he could be confident enough not even to need to rush much, and I liked the music in the scene as well.
I was very impressed with the acting throughout – of course Julio was bored and Rantes was unemotional for a reason. All the more uplifting the moment of Rantes and Beatriz starting to dance to the Ode of Joy was (and another music I like).
The boarding of the patients was outrageous – I can only hope it wasn't based on reality. Judging from their appearance, patients of various severity of disorders seemed to be dumped together, possibly having a bad effect on one another, their clothing was insufficient, they were fed from dogs' bowls, instead of the staff it was Rantes who noticed when they were cold, needed attention or more to eat, and he was all right exactly to the point until his treatment started. The procedure of turning this bright, well-meaning person into a mental and physical wreck was very well pictured and heartbreaking to watch.
One consolation for the similarities between the K-PAX movie (which, unfortunately, had parts added or altered from the book it was based on to make it similar to MFS, but its atmosphere is still different enough – especially regarding the state of the hospital and the way patients were treated – that it is worth watching) and this one is that it's good advertising for it. I only heard about, bought and watched MFS because it was mentioned in the K-PAX reviews, which is a real shame because it's better than the K-PAX movie (I gave it six stars in my review), and as good as the novel.
The scenes with the coffin and the brain are much slagged off as unnecessary but I think they couldn't have been better calculated. Handling of the bodies and the brain only turns rough after we learn Rantes is to get "medication", and so the scenes give us an idea how he would end up – just after he washes the brain down the drain come the injections and wash all the thoughts out of his brain.
But I think the disfigured faces suddenly popping up much earlier, after the scene of Rantes and Julio talking outside walking down stairs were completely unnecessary. The only part I hated – minus 1 star for including this regurgitated, cheap crappy horror-movie scare tactic trick in this great movie.
A Passion Play - The Destruction of Innocence
tomard26 May 2006
This movie is powerful and heart rending. I first saw this movie before I became a psychiatrist, and it remains one of my favorites. When I was in training, I showed it at our "Friday Night Movies with the Residents". It evoked disparate comments about the psychiatrist and the main character. It made everyone think and rethink their interpretations. It reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude because it has so many elements of Catholicism melded with South American mysticism. There are several stills that are imprinted on my brain. I have two tapes of it, one dubbed and one the original with English subtitles. I rarely watch the one with subtitles because I do not want to wear it out. I hope it is released in DVD soon because it should be shown to everyone who is training to be a mental health professional. It teaches one not to be too sure of their ideas. And not to be too certain they have analysed things correctly, or maybe, that analysing is not the compassionate way to treat patients, or people.
an alien among us
mjneu593 December 2010
A mysterious intruder arrives in a Buenos Aires insane asylum, ostensibly just another madman who claims, with unnerving sincerity, to be a holographic image projected from another planet. His mission (so he says) is to study the superweapon with which mankind threatens the cosmos: not The Bomb, but simple human stupidity. It might sound familiar, but don't mistake this modern Passion Play with science fiction. The film instead presents an intriguing philosophical dialogue between the 'madness' of the title character and the troubled sanity of Dr. Denis, a lost soul himself after serving too long the needs of the mentally ill. If there's a fault to the scenario it would have to be the lack of ambiguity about the stranger: Dr. Denis remains skeptical, but the audience is never in doubt of his otherworldly origins. A little ambivalence might have added some dimension to the sanity/insanity debate. The uneasy mood of the film was achieved by shooting it (in subdued shades of color) within an actual mental institution.
The Original K-Pax in Spanish!
gattonero9759 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This film is the movie that is accused of Hollywood "ripped off " in their version of it in K-Pax. The synopsis and plot is the same with very few changes here and there. While in K-Pax Kevin Spacey's Plut does not interrupt a symphony concert by taking over and conducting it, Hollywood did take that same premises & scenario and had Richard Gere do it in "Mr. Jones"!
I was very fortunate enough to see the original Spanish audio film with subtitles and it's a very sad haunting and hypnotic film.
the music score is very creepy, sinister and hypnotic and its own way. Especially the Sinister saxophone playing in the background. sometimes the music was so loud that I don't know if the director did that on purpose that the audio was still hearable but the music overwhelmed it at certain points so I don't know if that was on purpose or not. But regardless it gave certain scenes a very haunting and creepy horror like tension which I believe in a lot of ways it was very appropriate for this type of film and for it to convey The Haunting images of the mental hospital itself and what goes on there.
the film truly focuses on three characters the first being 'Rantes' play by the excellent actor Hugo Soto who unfortunately had a very short career he passed away in 1994 at the young age of 41 due to complications of AIDS.
Actor Lorenzo Quinteros who played Dr. Julio Denis, he did a excellent job add the psychiatrist dealing with the reality is Ranted a lunatic or is he really an extraterrestrial like he claims to be? the distinguish Lorenzo retired at the age of 70 and 2016 due to heart issues. He passed away three years later in 2019 at the age of 73 having had a long and distinguished career in his native country of Argentina.
the young and lovely Ines Vernengo (Beatriz Dick) made her debut with this film and it looked like it would be her one and only film until six years later she appeared in 1992 in the film The Dark Side of the heart in a part credited as La Ciega (the blind woman) and after that she has not been seen or heard of ever since a complete mystery.
So do yourself a favor and check this film out if you can with its original Spanish audio and subtitles and you will see the difference between it and K-PAX , especially the ending which has a very surprising twisting endimg Revelation that explains a lot!
I for one enjoyed both versions of this intriguing premises and story Man Facing Southeast is very cerebral and hypnotic and Haunting in a lot of ways and K-PAX endearing, thoughtful and sad also in its own way both films to me are excellent I have no problems I just love the storyline, the plot it is very fantastic and I'm glad that to some degree K-PAX did their own reimaging of this fantastic Man Facing Southeast film so do yourself a favor and check them both out!
A Scintillating Science Fiction Mystery (...but not more...)
fatcat-7345030 October 2021
This film is shot and directed like The Exorcist III. It looks like a horror film despite the fact that it's a science fiction drama.
Rantes is a cuckoo who voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric hospital. He claims to be an alien with a strong interest in human behaviour. Psychiatrist Julio Denis takes a special interest in him, probably because he seems more cool, intelligent, and descriptive than his typical patient.
Our doctor seems to oscillate between belief and disbelief, always paying lip service to his duly scientific opinion that the claims Rantes is spewing are absurd while on the other hand going to great lengths to try to gather evidence that Rantés is either lying or is making scientifically untenable statements.
The writer was trying to be cute with this one. Rantés spews criticisms of humanity but they're not really original or tied to anything substantial. Humans tend to be rather selfish and hypocritical. Most people are unhappy with their mundane and restricted lives. So what? This is old news. What's next? Going to tell me humans are destroying the planet? Just having a character say something in a monotone voice doesn't make it deep or artistic.
More than a few scenes are illogical, although the film slowly becomes more abstract and unglued from the fabric of reality as it goes along, so one could argue this is on purpose. On the other hand, our good doctor does something strikingly unethical and out of character near the end of the movie. So, like the doctor himself, I am confused as to whether this movie was a bit sloppy or attempting to be more surreal. I opt for the former.
For a movie that mainly relies on dialogue, there are a lot of scenes where the music plays so loudly that you can't hear what the characters are saying for a few critical seconds. A huge error, in my opinion.
The film successfully keeps you entertained with its principal mystery. Not only is the concept itself just refreshingly novel, but the film is competently put together. The director is masterful at stringing the audience along with just enough doubt to keep them wanting to keep seeing things through to the end. The straight man/(possibly?) gaslit man main duo is also supported by strong acting from the two leads. Yet I think the best part of it is the ambiance. The lighting is dark, the setting of a psychiatric hospital and frequent use of organ music is effectively creepy, and the lead character does act like some alien, emotionally-disturbed person, or machine. It feels like an 80s horror movie.
I notice lots of people rate this movie a 10. It's good for what it is, but let's not exaggerate its superterrestrial powers.
Honourable Mentions: Doubt (2008). Sudeste is, at the core, neither a movie about an alien, nor about faith, nor about the flaws of humanity, but instead about doubt, much like this 2008 drama about a priest and a young Catholic school pupil.
Rantes is a cuckoo who voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric hospital. He claims to be an alien with a strong interest in human behaviour. Psychiatrist Julio Denis takes a special interest in him, probably because he seems more cool, intelligent, and descriptive than his typical patient.
Our doctor seems to oscillate between belief and disbelief, always paying lip service to his duly scientific opinion that the claims Rantes is spewing are absurd while on the other hand going to great lengths to try to gather evidence that Rantés is either lying or is making scientifically untenable statements.
The writer was trying to be cute with this one. Rantés spews criticisms of humanity but they're not really original or tied to anything substantial. Humans tend to be rather selfish and hypocritical. Most people are unhappy with their mundane and restricted lives. So what? This is old news. What's next? Going to tell me humans are destroying the planet? Just having a character say something in a monotone voice doesn't make it deep or artistic.
More than a few scenes are illogical, although the film slowly becomes more abstract and unglued from the fabric of reality as it goes along, so one could argue this is on purpose. On the other hand, our good doctor does something strikingly unethical and out of character near the end of the movie. So, like the doctor himself, I am confused as to whether this movie was a bit sloppy or attempting to be more surreal. I opt for the former.
For a movie that mainly relies on dialogue, there are a lot of scenes where the music plays so loudly that you can't hear what the characters are saying for a few critical seconds. A huge error, in my opinion.
The film successfully keeps you entertained with its principal mystery. Not only is the concept itself just refreshingly novel, but the film is competently put together. The director is masterful at stringing the audience along with just enough doubt to keep them wanting to keep seeing things through to the end. The straight man/(possibly?) gaslit man main duo is also supported by strong acting from the two leads. Yet I think the best part of it is the ambiance. The lighting is dark, the setting of a psychiatric hospital and frequent use of organ music is effectively creepy, and the lead character does act like some alien, emotionally-disturbed person, or machine. It feels like an 80s horror movie.
I notice lots of people rate this movie a 10. It's good for what it is, but let's not exaggerate its superterrestrial powers.
Honourable Mentions: Doubt (2008). Sudeste is, at the core, neither a movie about an alien, nor about faith, nor about the flaws of humanity, but instead about doubt, much like this 2008 drama about a priest and a young Catholic school pupil.
Superb, Thoughtful SF Without SFX
emvan27 July 2000
A man breaks *into* an insane asylum: he says he's a space-alien observer with mystical powers, and figures he'll save everyone the trouble by cutting to the chase. An exhilirating meditation on the fine line between divine inspiration and madness, clearly influenced by Philip K. Dick's autobiographical last novels (_VALIS_ and _The Transmigration of Timothy Archer_); Subiela makes this explicit by naming the lead female character "Beatriz Dick."
a fabrication leans slightly too fanciful and verbose for its own good
lasttimeisaw1 December 2019
"The climax is somehow overlaid with a cynical pang by paralleling Rantes' ordeal with Julio's lustful conquest towards the comely and nubile Beatriz Dick (Vernengo), a self-purported recent friend of Rantes, but the truth remain increasingly murky, and the finale shows that Subeila tries hard to find a middle ground to evade the decision of pinpointing either possibility (is Rantes really an alien or an eccentric earth-bound lunatic?)."
reading my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks
reading my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks
Leaves Questions Unanswered
carol-16021 April 2005
One of my criteria for favorably rating a movie is that it does not attempt to answer every question it poses. This movie leaves the basic question of the mental patient's (Rantes) origin unexplained. The plot is a fine vehicle for examining society's definition of sanity. The performance of Hugo Soto as Rantes is exceptional. The other members of the cast play their roles with sensitivity. The film was shot on location at a mental institution and the inclusion of patients in the supporting cast lends an unmistakable authenticity to the production. Unfortunately the English language dub version is disjointed and this detracts somewhat from this otherwise remarkable movie.
A brilliant film, as long as you see the subtitled version
urgrue-28 January 2000
Man Facing Southeast is a very good, deep, thought-provoking film. Beautiful, stark visuals, music, and good acting all work to create a very intense and utterly mesmerizing atmosphere. But don't bother renting it - as far as I know only the dubbed version is available on video. With dialogue that takes itself this seriously, it takes extreme skill to keep it from being merely pretentious and ridiculous - a skill which the dubbers completely lacked. Thus a great, serious film is turned into one of those completely unwatchable abominations where you don't know if you should laugh or cry.
Subiela is always surprising!
DhariaLezin26 December 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Little Miracles, Man Facing Southeast, The Dark Side of The Heart 1 and 2 are to me really amazing, specially because it is obvious the budget is too low and even though, the movies are deep, disturbing, intriguing, and yet, easy to understand (not without thinking)... Subiela is one of the few directors I can tell I've liked all what I have seen of them (Kubrik might be another, and maybe Lynch), but the only Latin one. The main question about the movie is "what if?" What if Rantes is really what he says he is? What if the doctor is the crazy and blind one? What if the other interns of the mental hospital can see what is for real, just as all the crazy people in the world? And, there are a lot of Why's also. Why do the doctor kids like Rantes so much? Why Beatriz is always changing her shoes when nobody looks at her? Why Rantes, even though is so cold loves the music so much, and for moments, makes him act as a "real human"? The details (something that I start to consider typical in Subiela are what make the movie so unique. Rantes could stay as someone totally crazy if we would not have the benefit of the doubt when we see him use his mental powers, and by the other side, the photo that Lorenzo (the doctor) finds in Beatriz's bag that is at least 10 years old, makes us think that they have not exactly just arrived to the planet. But again, why is Rantes so important for the rest of the interns in the hospital, and how does he get there? And how would his "sister" Beatriz find him if it would not be telepathy? There are two very shocking and extremely great scenes to me: The first one is when Rantes directs the orchestra playing Beethoven 9th Symphony at the same time that the interns in the hospital are celebrating -whatever they are celebrating-; and the second one is when Rantes is laying on the bed, medicated, and mutters "Dr, Dr, why have you abandoned me?"... just as Jesus said when he was crucified. Such a great metaphor.
Brilliant and wonderful
clupercus26 July 2006
I was shocked by the first commentary I read about this movie. Man Facing Southeast is one of my favorite movies of all time. The first time I saw it, I watched it through, and then RAN to my phone and demanded two of my closest friends come over to my house immediately to see it. They did, with much grumbling about not being given any notice, etc. But they arrived, and both of them, one an Israeli, the other a fellow from Japan, agreed wholeheartedly with me... The movie IS brilliant and they were glad I dragged them out of their homes to come see it. All three of us have gone on to see the movie again (and again and again) and have other people watch it with us. I have yet to hear one person say anything that wasn't a glowing report. The comment made that the movie didn't answer the questions it posed, is just ridiculous. THAT is one of the movies strong points. There are no easy answers at the end of it. It's up to the viewer to decide or not decide (if one doesn't NEED that easy ending) what really happened. Words I would use to describe A Man Facing Southeast, would be, Brilliant, Original, Sensitive, Compassionate and of course... EXTRAORDINARY! The movie is a rare find and an enthralling piece of work. I can't say enough good about it (obviously). Also, I did not see the dubbed version. I saw the subtitled version of the movie and would suggest that others do the same. Dubbing a movie rarely does anything except make the narrative of the film, irritating. Perhaps the only exceptions being some of the modern martial arts films coming to the U.S. from China. Anyone reading this commentary, Man Facing Southeast is amazing and wonderful. SEE IT! You'll be glad you did. :P
One of the best foreign films I've ever seen
johnbassett11 August 2001
This is undoubtedly one of the best foreign films I've ever seen. All the elements: the cast,plot, cinematography, etc are quite remarkable.It is particularly thought provoking in its treatment of ideas concerning psychiatry and religion; science-fiction/metaphysics.
I would really like to see an English version made. However, I don't think it would work as a direct translation.Unfortunately, there are too many people who cannot appreciate a movie in a foreign language with subtitles - who will be missing a truly worthwhile film.
I would really like to see an English version made. However, I don't think it would work as a direct translation.Unfortunately, there are too many people who cannot appreciate a movie in a foreign language with subtitles - who will be missing a truly worthwhile film.
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