The Argentinian filmmaker Matías Szulanski presents 'Buenas noches' at Zonazine, a thriller with comedic overtones
The director was inspired by Mumblecore, a sub-genre of American independent cinema in the early 2000s.
The fifth day of the 28th Festival de Málaga welcomed the Zonazine section, with 'Buenas noches' by the Argentinian director Matías Szulanski. This feature film seeks to offer an entertaining story, with unexpected twists and an aesthetic that harks back to the American independent cinema of the 2000s.
‘Buenas noches' tells the story of a young Brazilian girl who travels to Argentina to visit her aunt, but after a misunderstanding and losing her belongings she must kill time until the following morning.
A press conference was held after the screening of the film in Hall 3 of the Albéniz cinema, attended by the director, Matías Szulanski, and the leading actress, Rebeca Rossatto.
Szulanski explained at the presentation that the original idea came about in 2018 when he started filming with a handheld camera and some actresses without a set script. However, the project was put on hold until after directing ‘Último recurso’, when he decided to go back to it, this time with a more developed script. As for his influences, the director mentioned his admiration for Martin Scorsese's 'After Hours', although he had decided not to revisit it so as not to condition his production. He also noted his interest in Mumblecore cinema and the work of the Safdie brothers and John Cassavetes, among others.
The leading actress, Rebeca Rossatto, also wanted to share her experience in the filming: "It's true that I had already worked with Matías on a technical level, but this was my first acting experience. It was quite a journey, very intense. We always filmed at night, except for one day, when we filmed during the day". She also stressed the naturalness that the director seeks in his actors: "Matías is committed to freshness in his reactions, with a very naturalistic approach".
Far from explicit social criticism, Szulanski explained that his intention was to tell a dynamic and entertaining story. "Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, but it can also be very dangerous. I may say that, but I do not want to make an in-depth analysis of the city", he explained. The director also wanted to highlight his particular creative process: "I always discard the first thing that comes to mind. I like to look for the option that is most opposite to common sense".
Matías Szulanski is an Argentinean film and advertising director and producer. He directed the films 'Juana Banana' in 2022, 'Last Resort' in 2023 and 'Berta y Pablo' in 2024, among others. He is also the founder of Kligger, a studio dedicated to promotion and production. ‘Buenas noches’ is his twelfth feature film as a director.
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