The Aura

Synopsis: In his elegantly conceived second feature, The Aura, Fabián Bielinsky (Nine Queens) both furthers his exploration of film form and creates a complex genre film firmly rooted in character. Espinoza is an introverted taxidermist perfectly suited to solitary, meticulous work. Though private and unassuming, he's remarkably observant - an attribute that lends itself to masterminding perfect robberies...in his head. After his wife leaves him, Espinoza accepts a friend's invitation to go hunting in Patagonia. When an accidental death presents him with the chance to pull off a real heist, Espinoza naïvely places himself in the center of a scheme to rob an armored van. Unlike those in his imagination, however, this is a real crime with real criminals. As a heist film, The Aura sports a shrewd, serpentine plot, and Bielinsky allows us the fun of trying to arrange puzzle pieces on our own. But he also never lets go of his preoccupation with character and crafts a style that's airy and contemplative; The Aura's gorgeous, deliberate visuals are almost hypnotic. Espinoza is a fascinating protagonist, a quiet, opaque man who suffers from epilepsy. The "aura" refers to the eerie, frozen moment before a seizure when Espinoza knows it's coming but can do nothing about it. It's one of a handful of intertwining metaphors and themes that give The Aura a satisfying sense of wholeness.     Source: Sundance Film Festival

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