The hidden city

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Movie
German title The hidden city
Original title Elefante blanco
Country of production Argentina , Spain , France
original language Spanish
Publishing year 2012
length 99 minutes
Rod
Director Pablo Trapero
script Pablo Trapero, Alejandro Fadel, Santiago Miter, Martín Mauregui
production Juan Pablo Galli, Juan Gordon, Juan Vera
music Michael Nyman
camera Guillermo Nieto
cut Andrés Pepe Estrada, Nacho Ruiz Capillas, Pablo Trapero, Santiago Esteves
occupation
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The hidden city (original title: Elefante blanco ) is a film drama by Pablo Trapero from 2012, which is about the community and social work of two Catholic priests in a poor district in the greater Buenos Aires area .

action

The Belgian Father Nicolás ( Jérémie Renier ), who barely escaped with his life in Peru, comes into the care of the Argentine Father Julián ( Ricardo Darín ). He leads a parish in a villa in the greater Buenos Aires area. Since Julián has cancer, he tries to familiarize Nicolás with his community, which quickly leads to differences in content between the two. When working together in the slum area, social problems such as inadequate supplies, limited living space and drug offenses up to a drug war arise. At work they are supported by the social worker Luciana ( Martina Gusmán ), with whom Nicolás enters into a sexual relationship. In a police raid, during which the two padres try to hide a wanted boy from the neighborhood, Julian is killed and Nicolás injured. After a recovery phase in the silent monastery, Nicolás returns to the villa .

background

The original film title Elefante Blanco (German: White Elephant) refers to the ruins of a planned hospital in Villa 15 within the Villa Lugano district , in which the film is set. The German title refers to the unofficial title of Villa 15 : Villa Occulta (German: Verborgenes (Elends-) Viertel).

The film is also to be understood as a homage to the Argentine Father Carlos Mugica . He did similar community work as the main characters in Villa 31 in the Retiro district and was shot in an assassination attempt in May 1974. Mugica's memorial in Villa 31 is shown in the film and incorporated into the plot in Villa 15.

Awards

The film was released at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2012 and was nominated for the Un Certain Regard category.

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