“I know when they're going to come because a few seconds earlier, I feel something. The doctors call it ‘aura’.”
Into the Mind of a Taxidermist: Exploring The Aura
Fabián Bielinsky's final film The Aura (2005) marked his second and tragically last collaboration with Argentine star Ricardo Darín before the director's untimely death at age 47. Following their success with Nine Queens, this psychological thriller follows an epileptic taxidermist who becomes entangled in a casino heist after accidentally killing a man during a hunting trip. The film showcases Bielinsky's masterful direction and Darín's nuanced performance in what would become one of Argentine cinema's most compelling neo-noir entries. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we return to our Ricardo Darín series with a conversation about The Aura.
A Study in Point of View
Pete and Andy explore how Bielinsky crafted the film's unique perspective, particularly through the protagonist's epileptic seizures. The hosts discuss the innovative camera techniques used to convey these moments, including the circular dolly track combined with zoom effects that create a deeply unsettling viewer experience. They note how this technical prowess serves the larger narrative about perception and reality.
Criminal Aspirations vs. Reality
The conversation delves into Darín's character Esteban, a taxidermist who fantasizes about perfect heists but struggles with human relationships. Andy highlights how the film subverts heist movie tropes, while Pete observes how Esteban's professional isolation mirrors his social limitations. Both hosts praise the film's exploration of the gap between criminal fantasy and brutal reality.
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