Argentine director Luis Fontal’s Congreso is, first and foremost, a half-cooked film. It hinges on a very simple premise: three male friends invite women friends to the apartment they share in the BA neighbourhood of Congreso to a small party meant to turn into a night to remember. Which it does, but for the wrong reasons.
Nicolás (Ezequiel Tronconi), his cousin Gonzalo (Matías Dinardo), and Germán (Maximiliano Zago), a friend of Nicolás’ who has just split up with his girlfriend, decorate the flat in Mexican style to welcome three beauties who just want to have fun. But they forget to play it fair, as agreed and expected. By the time the party is over, things have certainly changed, and not for the better.
What basically makes Congreso a half-cooked film is mostly its underwritten script, let alone the thin female characters. Whereas it’s perfectly fine to rely on types rather than fleshed out characters — many successful dramatic comedies go for it — it’s equally true that types have to be somewhat singular in a few respects. Otherwise, they just won’t stand out from the crowd. And in Congreso they don’t.
On the other hand, what transpires in this meant-to-be steamy night is also as generic as it gets — a friend hooks up with the girl his friend likes, inhibited personalities become extroverted, initial rejection turns into attraction — so no matter how much fun the characters are supposed to be having, it doesn’t come across as authentic but rather rehearsed for the camera.
Even though a couple of the performances — particularly those of Ezequiel Tronconi and Matías Dinardo — feel believable enough.
It all pretty much boils down to the fact that even safe and sound formula calls for a degree of innovation and surprise in order to avoid delivering a feature that may have some assets — an affable sense of humour, for instance. Yet it ultimately fails to get right the meaty parts as you’d expect. Undoubtedly made with the best intentions, Congreso is in need of more heavy work, and some polishing as well.
Limited release
Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 8pm. Saturday at 10pm. At Centro Cultural San Martín (Sarmiento 1551).
Production notes
Congreso (Argentina, 2014). Directed by Luis Fontal. Written by Luis Fontal and Ezequiel Tronconi. With Ezequiel Tronconi, Matías Dinardo, Sabrina Macchi, Maximiliano Zago, Florencia Benítez, Agustina Quinci. Cinematography: Camilo Marzano. Editing: Lourdes Miere. Running time: 85 minutes.
