SYNOPSIS
White Elephant (aka Elefante blanco). Argentina’s always rewarding Pablo Trapero returns with a typically stimulating blend of raw documentary-style realism and carefully crafted suspense, applied this time to the work of Catholic priests in a massive Buenos Aires slum. Julián enlists friend and fellow priest Nicolas in his struggle to improve conditions, reduce criminality and protect the inhabitants from druglords and cops; trouble is, the Frenchman, already scarred by an earlier experience, is coming to question his calling, especially after encountering social worker Luciana. Authenticity is clearly one of the film’s greatest strengths: with a narrative rooted in characterisation and issues rather than uplifting plot clichés, its depiction of life in the slum rings terribly true. The script, alert to moral nuance and political argument, along with the immediacy of both performances and pacy direction together make for gripping, intelligent, powerful drama.
Premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11 2012
