Empieza el baile

A commenter wrote that this film embodied the spirit of Argentina - and being unfamiliar with both the country and tango, I'm surely missing something. What remains, however, is enough. Poignant story, bordering on the absurd but at the same time depicting reality, the ever-elusive present rooted in the past - I kept wondering whether rural Argentina is as frozen back in time. One is invited to stop and savour its tastes, while laughing at some of its once-glamorous buildings and inhabitants. There's charm in the grotesque and one cannot tell whether comedy overcomes the tragedy or vice versa. Most importantly, there are no regrets.

The music and the scenery in equal measure provide the background to this little gem, and the actors are delightful.