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IMDbPro

La cámara oscura

  • 20082008
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
161
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
286,457
47,631
La cámara oscura (2008)
DramaMusic
At the end of the 19th century, a woman whom everyone considers ugly is ignored by all. Eventually, she meets a French photographer, and he will be the only person capable of seeing the beau... Read allAt the end of the 19th century, a woman whom everyone considers ugly is ignored by all. Eventually, she meets a French photographer, and he will be the only person capable of seeing the beauty and the richness of her intense inner world.At the end of the 19th century, a woman whom everyone considers ugly is ignored by all. Eventually, she meets a French photographer, and he will be the only person capable of seeing the beauty and the richness of her intense inner world.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
161
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
286,457
47,631
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • María Victoria Menis
    • Writers
      • Alejandro Fernández Murriay
      • Angelica Fischer(story)
      • Angélica Gorodischer(story)
    • Stars
      • Mirta Bogdasarian
      • Fernando Armani
      • Patrick Dell'Isola
    Top credits
    • Director
      • María Victoria Menis
    • Writers
      • Alejandro Fernández Murriay
      • Angelica Fischer(story)
      • Angélica Gorodischer(story)
    • Stars
      • Mirta Bogdasarian
      • Fernando Armani
      • Patrick Dell'Isola
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

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    Mirta Bogdasarian
    • Gertrudis
    Fernando Armani
    • León
    Patrick Dell'Isola
    • Jean Baptiste
    Carlos Defeo
    • Nathan
    Silvina Bosco
    • Eva
    Joaquín Berthold
    Joaquín Berthold
    • David
    Jeronimo Freixas
    • Samuel
    Brenda Howlin
    • Esther
    Elisa Carricajo
    • Ana
    Ezequiel Circo
    • Benjamín
    Florencia Ortiz
    Florencia Ortiz
    • Ruth
    Malena Figó
    • Sara
    María Figueras
    • Judith
    Héctor Sinder
    • Martín
    Gonzalo Martínez
    • Juan
    Alan Coria
    • Pedrito
    Barbarella Piana
    • Gertrudis niña
    Nazarena Noeli Sánchez
    • Gertrudis adolescente
    • Director
      • María Victoria Menis
    • Writers
      • Alejandro Fernández Murriay
      • Angelica Fischer(story)
      • Angélica Gorodischer(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Florencia Ortiz's debut.

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Jews in Argentina
    The Argentinian film La cámara oscura (2008), directed by María Victoria Menis, was shown in the U.S. with the title "The Camera Obscura." It stars Mirta Bogdasarian as Gertrudis, a woman so unattractive that her own mother cannot bear to look at her. (Actually, Ms. Bogdasarian isn't even remotely as unattractive as the character she portrays. Nonetheless, the point of the story is that she's unattractive, so we have to accept it.)

    I knew that some Jews who escaped the Holocaust managed to get into Argentina. However, I didn't realize that immigrants like Gertrudis's family had arrived much earlier, to escape the Russian pogroms. They settled in rural Argentina, and became farmers and ranchers.

    The story moves forward 20 years, by which time hope has been lost in regard to a marriage for Gertrudis. Nonetheless, she does eventually get married, to a wealthy widower, whose first wife was beautiful but unfaithful. The plot really begins much later, after World War I, when Gertrudis, her husband, and her family are living on their large ranch. Into this situation comes a French photographer, a former war correspondent, who takes pictures of everyone, including Gertrudis. What happens next is somewhat ambiguous, and each viewer will have to decide the significance of the last scene in the film. (Apparently Ms. Menis has been quoted as saying that the last scene is not ambiguous. Most of us in the audience thought it was.)

    An interesting facet of this movie is the portrayal of Gertrudis's husband and their sons, who have adopted the Gaucho costume, and who work alongside the hired ranch hands. In the same way, the women work hard at the traditional female jobs. An English squire, in similar circumstances, would have a life of leisure, and his wife would have maids to do the hardest work. Not so, apparently, in Argentina. Assuming that this is an accurate portrayal, I found these facts fascinating.

    The film has some beautiful scenic shots, and they'll be mostly lost on the small screen. Better to see this film in a theater if possible. We saw it at the excellent Rochester Jewish Film Festival.

    P.S. For reasons I don't understand, this movie has a dismal weighted IMDb average of 6.3. It's not a great film, but it's much better than that. The Camera Obscura is definitely worth seeing.
    helpful•7
    0
    • Red-125
    • Aug 2, 2010

    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 11, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Argentina
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (France)
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Camera Obscura
    • Filming locations
      • Argentina
    • Production companies
      • Sophie Dulac Productions
      • Todo Cine S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $746,669
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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