Before Opening Night
(Antes del estreno)
Santiago Giralt | Drama, Fiction, Romance
2011 | 80 minutes | Argentina
Writer-director Santiago Giralt gives us elements of Woody Allen’s nervous comedy and Cassavetes’ melodramatic roller coaster in a storm of egos that takes place on one decisive weekend in the lives of Juana, a popular actress about to star in an important theater production, and her husband Roman, a director suffering from writer’s block.
Synopsis
Writer-director Santiago Giralt gives us elements of Woody Allen’s nervous comedy and Cassavetes’ melodramatic roller coaster in a storm of egos that takes place on one decisive weekend in the lives of Juana, a popular actress about to star in an important theater production, and her husband Roman, a director suffering from writer’s block. The couple’s daughter, Lila, serves as a mirror reflecting her parents’ frustrations and joys. The long takes, atmospheric music, and stellar performances (Erica Rivas won Best Actress at the Mar del Plata Film Festival for her portrayal of Juana), give a poignant, sometimes hilarious portrayal of a family as they attempt to negotiate their egos with their marriage and artistic lives. Directed by one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation, Before Opening Night is an excellent example of the reinvigorated independent cinema coming from Argentina in recent years.
Reviews
"A cinematic triumph" — Diego Batlle, La Nación
"There is a lot of truth in this film" — Miguel Frías, Clarín
"The new film of Giralt is of an infrequent dramatic maturity and uncommon cinematic fluidity. Excellent Nahuel Mutti." — Luciano Monteagudo, Página 12
"Before Opening Night became a cinema master class." — Rafael Garbero, El Fiscón Digital
"But it is precisely through this economy, where Before Opening Night becomes a story with dramatic consistency and stylistic coherence at times hilarious and with a heavy magnetism." — Ezequiel Obregón, Escribiendo Cine
Citation
Main credits
Giralt, Santiago (film director)
Giralt, Santiago (screenwriter)
Roque Pitt, Mili (film producer)
Rivas, Érica (actor)
Mutti, Nahuel (actor)
Serna, Miranda de la (actor)
Other credits
Cinematography, Facundo Pires y Galel Maidana; music, Emisor.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Cinema Studies
Dance + Performing Arts
Family
Sociology
South America
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Mar del Plata Film Festival - Best Actress
Tucumán Cinema - Jury Awards
Global Cinema Festival Zoom Community - Best Actress, Best Feature Length Film
DIRECTOR: Santiago Giralt
NATIONALITY: Argentina
YEAR: 2011
GENRE: Drama, Fiction, Romance
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Porcelain Horse
Mejor no hablar (de ciertas cosas)
A Film About Couples
Una película sobre parejas
Duo
Dúo
Guests Always Return
Los invitados siempre vuelven
I Girl
Yo niña
One Night Alone
Una noche solos
Cordelias
Marisa in the Woods
Marisa en los bosques
The Fire
El incendio
Zerø
Rompiente
Andrés Reads and Writes
Andrés lee i escribe
The Sleepwalkers
Los sonámbulos
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 266
SEE COLLECTION >Romance Reel
Indulge in the timeless allure of love with a captivating collection of films destined to leave you breathless and longing for more.
Number of titles: 32
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Cinema Studies
Independent, classic, experimental, risky, and transgressive films from Latin American that celebrate art of filmmaking.
Number of titles: 59
SEE COLLECTION >Women's Voices
These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.
Number of titles: 216
SEE COLLECTION >The Arts
A fascinating journey into the creative process and the transformative power of artistic expression.
Number of titles: 113
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 637
SEE COLLECTION >