Wild Tales - Jeder dreht mal durch! (Wild Tales, Relatos Salvajes)
Argentina/Spain 2014

Opening 8 Jan 2015

Directed by: Damián Szifrón
Writing credits: Damián Szifrón
Principal actors: Liliana Ackerman, Luis Manuel Altamirano García, Alejandro Angelini, Damián Benítez, Cristina Blanco

The beginning is inauspicious: an airport. Passengers board; the plane is not full. After takeoff, two strangers begin to talk and realize that they both know Gabriel Pasternak. Other passengers also recognize the name and all agree that the relationship with Gabriel was difficult. What a shock when the stewardess announces that Mr. Pasternak has taken over the plane. He holds a grudge and seeks revenge against the passengers as well as against his own parents – but they are at home drinking tea in the garden.

This is one of six short stories. All of the events described could happen in real life, but all are spiced by small details that go beyond the bounds of propriety into the world of fantasy, which makes it most entertaining. Would we do that – maybe – even it’s crazy? A man enters a restaurant and places an order with a waitress who has an unfortunate memory of him. A man thumbs his nose at another driver, whom he overtakes on the highway. A man’s car is towed repeatedly and the bureaucratic offices are not forthcoming (my favorite ending). The son of a billionaire kills a pregnant woman in a car accident (human nature on trial). There is a wedding celebration. (I became impatient while watching this one, but it stayed with me the longest after I left the cinema.)

Wild Tales has been nominated to represent Argentina in the 2015 Oscars for best foreign-language film. It played to huge success at the Filmfest Hamburg 2014 and should definitely not be missed. You’ll laugh and cry and relate to every situation – human nature par excellence. (Becky Tan)