Cielo (Eugenia Suárez) is a gorgeous 17-year-old girl who shares some common traits with other teens of her age: she doesn’t get along with her parents (Gloria Carrá and Rafael Spregelburd), she’s not what you’d call outgoing, she only has one friend at school, and most recently she’s been spending a lot time on Internet chat rooms. On a given night, she meets Alejo (Esteban Lamothe), who is 10 years older and a smooth talker. No wonder Cielo falls for him almost instantly. He is also very drawn to her, but actually never falls in love. To him, it’s just another pleasurable affair — with an expiration date.
So when he stops answering the phone and dodges her calls, or when he shows up only to spend very little time with her, Cielo starts stalking him day and night, by phone but also in person. Since she doesn’t get as much attention as she craves, the teenager becomes more and more obsessive and it doesn’t take long until she stops eating. Or better said, she eats as little as possible and then secretly throws up. Yes, she’s turned into a true anorexic, which she sees as a proud identity. She firmly believes that now Alejo will come back to her. However, the sad truth is it’s only a matter of time until she hits rock bottom.
One of the most notable traits of Abzurdah, the new film by Argentine filmmaker Daniela Goggi (Vísperas), is that is has a ring of truth to the material it presents, which is by no means easy stuff. And I don’t mean only the events associated directly with anorexia — the progressive resistance to eat, the secret escapes, the web profile to contact other proud (and not so proud) anorexic girls — but the entire love affair, both fanatical and compulsive, as well as the different facets of Cielo’s conflictive personality. Given the overall scenario, which of course includes a huge need of approval, it’s not hard to see why to Cielo you can’t ever be skinny enough.
Suárez, a newcomer to the film arena, does quite a good job as Cielo, which sometimes overshadows seasoned Lamothe — or perhaps it is that his character, unlike hers, needs a bit more development. In any case, the two lovers as a couple still work out. As for the girl’s suffering, sometimes it’s almost tangible. Smartly enough, Goggi has opted not to create a charismatic, saintly character, but one that can be aggressive, aloof, and certainly unkind. Fortunately, she’s not your usual damsel in distress, but an average teen in deep trouble.
Narrated as a confessional personal diary, Abzurdah covers plenty of ground in little time, which sometimes results in too panoramic a view. Perhaps a stronger focus on some key issues would have made it more gripping. But the biggest drawback is the speedy, uplifting ending which feels as a way to comfort viewers instead of exposing them to the hardships and pain of recovery. An abrupt ending that takes away much of the anguish felt throughout most of the film is not the best of choices.
Production notes
Abzurdah (Argentina, 2015). Directed by Daniela Goggi. Written by Alberto Rojas Apel based upon the novel of the same name by Cielo Latini. With Eugenia Suárez, Esteban Lamothe, Gloria Carrá, Rafael Spregelburd, Paula Kohan. Cinematography: Sol Lopatín. Editing: Alberto Ponce. Running time: 90 minutes.
