Copacabana

Rejtman departs from narrative cinema with this lovely, structurally nuanced documentary on the Bolivian community in Buenos Aires. The film playfully moves in reverse, opening with the vibrant dances and colorful processions of the festival of Nuestra Señora de Copacabana, then tracking backwards to capture the community's preparation for the event. We head to the city's shantytowns, where many immigrants first arrive, and the film finishes where the story begins: on the border between Bolivia and Argentina, with the train that shuttles hopeful arrivals to the city of their dreams. There's no narration or CNN-style graphics here; words are granted only to the subjects, as an immigrant explains a photo scrapbook to the camera, or a young woman calls home. A celebration of immigrant desire and culture, Copacabana excels in capturing the dancers' preparations and communal energies. Stifled but never stilled within factory halls or cramped apartments, they're always ready to move and, if given the stage, to shine.

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