Avellaneda's Moon

Argentina 2004

Picture and details seattlefilm festival

Seen 20th August 2006

The opening sequence of people dancing the tango itself is a good premonition of where the heart of the film is. Added to that the birth of a boy amidst the gaiety of at Avellaneda's Moon. A social club for the neighbourhood. The boy is Ramon.
He grows up almost umbilically attached to the club despite the ups and downs of the times. The town itself is facing one of its bleakest economic moments and the club is a prime target for redevelopment. Besides Ramon, there is also a lady who is facing a divorce, the basketball coach cum arts craftsman who falls for the new dance teacher at the school as well as the bad guy who works for the city council. Ramon himself has problems with his wife after 20 years of marriage.
We see the personal and social mix reach a climax of sorts when the club members had to vote for the club's future. Ramon gave one of his most heart felt plea to save the club but had to concede defeat when economic considerations win the day. But all is not lost as just when he has decided to move from the town, he stumbled onto his long lost club membership card. His faith is renewed and there is hope yet for another Avelaneda's Moon.