The Aura [Import]

This Argentinean psychological crime thriller (2006) is one for the ages. Apparently, it was Fabian Bielinsky's last film of note before his death, and what a crowning achievement! The story centers on the delusional fantasies of a taxidermist who pictures himself pulling off the perfect robbery. Assisting him in this process is his photographic memory for graphic detail, which till now has served him well in his trade. Right from the start, the viewer is hit with the illogicality of the many paradoxes piling up in Julio's life. He leads a quiet existence but yearns for excitement; he prepares dead animals but hates the thought of killing them; and he's single but pretends to be married. One day, he heads out on a hunting trip with a friend to get away from all the crazy situations that coming his way in the big city. It is at this point, that he just happens to walk into a situation that provides him the means to commit the perfect crime: no motive, no trail of evidence, and no negative consequences or so he thinks. The movie moves slowly and deliberately in its plot as it successfully to convince its audience that Julio has got himself into a web of circumstances that is both intriguing and sinister. I will leave you to determine if he manages to extricate himself from the reality of his fantasies by learning to survive his worst nightmare: the need to kill others. With lots of people getting violently bumped off in this movie, the filmmaker does a credible job in preserving Julio's role as a social outcast. He continually struggles to make sense of the crazy, mixed-up world that he has suddenly and violently become a part of through his epileptic seizures. Be prepared for some interesting and disturbing surprises as his battle with unreality intensifies. Lots of twists and turns in this baby. If the element of suspense isn't enough to keep your attention, the plot itself will take you through some very bucolic parts of Argentina.

"El aura" is an excellent albeit extremely unusual thriller directed by Fabián Bielinsky. Bielinsky is a recently deceased Argentinian director who was also responsible for other great movies, for example the critically acclaimed "Nueve reinas" ("Nine queens"). "El aura" is very different from "Nueve reinas", but both movies share some common traits, like their originality and the ability to easily enthrall the spectator.

The main character of "El aura" is Esteban Espinosa (Ricardo Darin), an epileptict taxidermist whose favorite pastime is to plan crimes he never carries out. The title of this film makes reference to the specific moments when Esteban knows he is going to suffer an epileptic seizure, something that in his case is triggered by stressful situations. However, and due to the fact that Esteban leads a rather boring life, that doesn't happen a lot.

One day, though, something changes. Esteban's wife leaves him, and, without knowing what to do or what to think, he decides to go hunting to the Patagonian forest.with an acquaintance. That is a strange decision, but things get even weirder when he ends up killing an unlikely prey. The result is a very strange situation that presents him with the unique opportunity of making use of his ability to plan, if he is daring enough to seize the chance.

On the whole, I think that "El aura" is the kind of movie you are likely to enjoy, specially if you are fond of thrillers that don't lack originality. Highly recommended!

Belen Alcat

"The Aura" is as good a thriller as could be. The story, like "9 Queens",

Fabian Bielinsky's first film, is complicated and convoluted in a way that has you hanging on every twist and turn, hoping for more. The decision to have the "hero" be nearly a mute only increases the tension. Oh, and he suffers from epilepsy also. This was the best fiction film I've seen all year. It wouldn't be fair to tell you anymore than the short description given by Amazon.