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Puan

Directed by María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat
2023
Argentina
109 minutes
Unclassified 15+
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In this hilarious, incisive comedy, a philosophy professor at a Buenos Aires university is threatened by a charismatic rival. As their battle spirals out of control, so does their nation.

Puan is the name of the street on which the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature of the University of Buenos Aires is located. Marcelo (Marcelo Subiotto) has dedicated his life to teaching philosophy there – and to the service of his mentor, Professor Caselli. When Caselli dies suddenly, Marcelo expects to continue his legacy and be appointed his replacement. Enter Rafael (Leonardo Sbaraglia): handsome and charismatic, he returns from prestigious European universities and becomes an immediate competitor for the role. As the two men attempt to outdo each other, the institution appears to be on the verge of collapse, and maybe the nation around them is too. At once hilarious comedy and devastating portrait of an economy and nation on the brink, Puan poses vital questions about what is truly important. Directors María Alché and Benjamín Naishtat say: “We see this film as a complex and dynamic experience in which the audience participates in a kind of Chaplinesque hilarity while, at the same time, asking questions regarding identity, existence, [and] the future.”

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
Sly, delightful … As a late-breaking smile of pure happiness crosses Marcelo’s face in a distinctly uncomfortable situation, Puan lands on the surprisingly poignant and trenchant assertion that activism is not only good for society, it’s good for the dampened human spirit
Jessica Kiang, Variety

Special Guest

Benjamin Naishtat
Director
Benjamin Naishtat studied film in Universidad del Cine, Buenos Aires. He furthermore took part in the Contemporary Arts program of Le Fresnoy, France, and was granted a Radcliffe / Film Studies Center Fellowship from Harvard University. He wrote and directed Rojo (2018) which was selected in Official Competition at the San Sebastian Film Festival, awarded with the Concha de Plata for Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Darío Grandinetti. Benjamín wrote and directed El movimiento (2015) with the support of the Jeonju Film Festival, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. The film won Best Argentine Film at the Festival de Mar del Plata and the Jury Award at the Valdivia Festival. Benjamín wrote and directed Historia del Miedo (2014), which premiered at the Berlinale Official Competition. Currently, he is working on the adaptation of Los Siete Locos, by Roberto Arlt"

Tickets

Thu 6 Jun
6pm
State Theatre
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Subtitled
Past Event Cancel
Fri 7 Jun
12:45pm
State Theatre
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Subtitled
Past Event Cancel
Sun 16 Jun
4pm
Hayden Orpheum Cremorne - Cinema 5
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Subtitled
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
Official Competition
Year
2023
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
Argentina, Italy, France, Germany, Brazil
Language
In Spanish with English subtitles
Director
María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat
Producer
Bárbara Francisco Mendivil, Barbara Sarasola Day, Federico Eibuszyc
Cast
Marcelo Subiotto, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Julieta Zylberberg
Screenwriter
María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat
Cinematographer
Hélène Louvart
Editor
Livia Serpa
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
Women Directors, Comedies, Festival Award Winners, Central & South America
Company Credits
Sales Agent: Luxbox
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