BFI London Film Festival: Paula

BFI London Film Festival: 238 films. From 71 countries. 16 cinemas. 12 days. One Festival.

Paula works as a nanny for a middle class family where behaviour is governed by fiercely observed codes around gender and class. When she has a serious problem, Paula tries to find a solution with her habitual quiet efficiency. However, time is of the essence and no one appears willing to help. Eugenio Canevari’s ambitious debut feature exudes a quiet confidence, allowing the camera to observe the dynamics of the family members as the situation plays out around them. Like fellow Argentine Lucrecia Martel, he shows a keen eye for drawing out the details of this small town community at work and at play, eliciting lean, unmannered performances from his ensemble cast. Paula is both a coming-of-age tale, confidently realised, as well as an insightful portrait of the wider dynamics of Argentine society.

(Notes by Maria Delgado)

Paula, dir. Eugenio Canevari, Argentina-Spain 2015, 65 mins.