La Puta y La Ballena (The Whore and the Whale)

This Argentinean Luis Puenzo film is quite a nice surprise because actress performances, spectacular cinematography and the director’s vision to successfully intertwine two stories with many parallelisms.

There is a current time story about Vera, a writer that discovers that she has breast cancer and has a mastectomy, and in the past there is the story about Lola a woman that is sold to a bordello. The linking narrative between the two stories comes from a research Vera does into the life of an Argentinean man that fought and died in the Spanish Civil War.

This movie has the most beautiful views of La Patagonia with spectaculars sunsets and ocean views that of course include whales.

I believe that this is the best performance by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (Vera) I have ever seen, as here she is not presented only as an object of desire (as she is in most of her movies) but also as a mature and interesting character, which allows her to perform beyond her usual.

Also Merçè Llorens (Lola) has a great performance, especially since I just know her from her role in the Spaniard Hospital Central sort nighttime TV soap opera.

This movie has won 3 awards and had seven nominations in Spain and Argentina awards.

As mentioned by a viewer, knowing Spanish will be an asset, as the language used in the past story is outstanding as depicts period vulgar expressions and brothel language… and perhaps with subtitles this particular effect will be lost. But then, you will still have very nice interpretations of tangos, both dancing as musicians playing, and great performances with interesting characters.

If you like Aitana Sánchez-Gijón and/or enjoy period dramas, be sure that you will enjoy very much this movie.