Increible Review de UPA! en Variety

Some Buenos Aires wannabe auteurs find their squeals of joy quickly turn to bitter recriminations in "UPA! An Argentinian Film." Effervescent, enjoyably ramshackle no-budgeter, with the three firsttime writer-directors also playing the leads, makes a few hilarious points about the difficulties of contempo moviemaking in Argentina. It kept the home crowd happy at the recent Buenos Aires fest; but pic's sharp-eyed portrayal of multiple frustrations is universal in appeal, translating into fest interest at least.
Producer Ailen (Tamae Garateguy) and director Fer (Santiago Giralt) win cash at a Norwegian fest to make their first film, a Bergmanesque affair set in the Argentinian capital to star Nina (Camila Toker) and Hildegunn (Hildegunn Waerness). Problems start almost immediately when a potential producer states his preference for legit actress Gloria Carra (playing herself), causing Nina practically to break down. But Carra refuses to play the role, meaning Fer has to go begging back to Nina.
Other problems include the end of Fer's relationship with his b.f., the lack of an English script for Hildegunn, and the general air of chaos. Shoot does not actually begin until close to the hour mark.
Pic works best when keeping the focus on frustrations of the creative process: a scene showing repeated takes of Nina struggling to cry and Fer's mounting irritation is sheer delight. By comparison, scenes dealing with the relationships between the group look unscripted and descend into mere name-calling, particularly in the lengthy Fer/Nina showdown.
Young thesps look tremendously natural, and appear to be playing heightened versions of themselves. All are winsome, with good work from Giralt as the insecure Fer, whose pretensions have turned him into the prototypical tyrant helmer, and Toker as the beleaguered Nina. Only Waerness, as Hildegunn, is not always up to scratch.
Delirium of the project is conveyed by almost singular use of frenzied handheld camerawork and jump cuts. Dialogue features several witty, well-aimed swipes at the pretentiousness of New Argentine Cinema, but not all these jokes will travel. Tomi Lebrero's jazz-trio score is in keeping with the bouncy mood.
Camera (color/B&W), Giralt, Toker, Garateguy; editor, Bar; music, Tomi Lebrero; art director, Diego Schipani; sound, Pablo Gamberg, Guillermo Pico. Reviewed at Buenos Aires Film Festival (national competition), April 8, 2007 Running time: 90 MIN.
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933427.html?categoryid=31&cs=1
UPA! Una Pelicula Argentina (Argentina), By JONATHAN HOLLAND
An M&S Produccion, UPA Films production. (International sales:
M&S, Buenos Aires.) Executive producers, Mili Roque Pitt, Silvia
Rodriguez. Directed by Santiago Giralt, Camila Toker, Tamae Garateguy.
Screenplay, Giralt, Toker, Garateguy, Eva Bar.
With: Santiago Giralt, Camila Toker, Tamae Garateguy, Hildegunn Waerness, Florencia Braier, Silvina Acosta, Gloria Carra.
(Spanish, English dialogue)