Leonardo Favio's "Ancieto," an enchanting movie that tells a story through dance

Argentine singer, actor and movie producer Leonardo Favio has produced an enhancing jewel called "Ancieto," beautifully filmed, in almost minimalist fashion, filled with rich images; a simple but dense story fantastically danced by Hernán Piquín, Natalia Pelayo (Francisca) and Alejandra Baldoni (lucia). It would indeed be difficult to label the film, although it is certainly faithful to Favio’s artistic credos. Once again the trio: Ancieto is a lonely young man who goes to a small town in the province of Mendoza. There he falls head over heels in love with Francisca--until a new neighbor appears, Lucia. The rest of the tragedy follows the general line for trio type tragedies.

What is of master class in the film is the extraordinary quality of the dancing. It is rare that a film be told on the feet of first class classical dancers. Favio even manages to have the actors dance a moving love making scene--with uncanny beauty and sensuality. The film is filled with evocative images, dear to Favio’s heart: the moon, water, roosters, blood, a rustic home, a wall. The images come and go, knitting the story together in perfect harmony with the dancing.

The exagerated machismo of Ancieto--lover of two women until he is discovered and ruined--is a thread that Favio has used time and again in other productions. However, in spite of this stress on machismo and violence, one is taken away by the simplicity and beauty of the film and the ability of the director to turn moments of silence into charged emotion...and the meticulous way the eyes of the actors glance, sulk, contemplate or reveal deep inner feelings.  

If you hurry up, you can see Ancieto at the Gaumont movies house near the Congress plaza in Buenos Aires...