Carlos Sorin is an excellent Argentinian director, but "El Gato Desaparece" is not "Historias Mínimas" or nothing whatsoever. Sorin used to make little stories, pieces of the real life with characters played by non professional actors. He was good in that kind of pictures. Very good. But this new one is totally different. It's a kind of psycho thriller, since Luis (Luis Luque) finally goes home, released after a long time in a psychiatric institute. The doctors say he's completely cured, but his wife Beatriz (Beatriz Spalzini) is not totally sure. The behavior of Luis is normal. Instead, Beatriz is nervous and can't sleep. The picture focuses in both characters and the different reactions they have after the cat disappears and something strange, maybe dangerous, perhaps only in Beatriz's mind, rounds the house. We don't see nothing in particular, but the climax turns more and more heavy in some way. Apparently nothing happens, but we feel that something is about to explode anytime. Everything is very subtle thanks to Sorin's direction, a brilliant work of camera, lighting and music, and the intense performances of Luque and Spalzini, specially the latter. The film is entertaining and thrilling, slow-paced but always interesting.
Review of The Cat Vanishes
