Esperando al mesías (Waiting for the Messiah) (2000)

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Set in the vibrant Jewish community of Buenos Aires, Daniel Burman's second feature takes a poignant look at the lives of two men. One is a young man who is torn between his devotion to traditional family ties and the desire for something different, the other is an older bank employee who… More Set in the vibrant Jewish community of Buenos Aires, Daniel Burman's second feature takes a poignant look at the lives of two men. One is a young man who is torn between his devotion to traditional family ties and the desire for something different, the other is an older bank employee who suddenly finds his life in complete turmoil. Santamaria (Enrique Pineyro) is terminated from his steady bank job as the world stock market experiences unpredictable convulsions, and his wife duly takes this development as an opportunity to put him out on the street. Forced to make a paltry living returning stolen wallets, Santamaria finds some hope in the form of a comely bathroom attendant (Stefania Sandrelli), who is waiting for her husband to be released from prison. Meanwhile, Ariel (Daniel Hendler) is chafing against the restraints of a predictable future that will see him take over his elderly father's (Hector Alterio) restaurant and marry a nice Jewish girl (Melina Petriella). Santamaria's and Ariel's stories are told in bits and pieces, contrasted against one another to demonstrate the many parallel universes that can co-exist in the same urban milieu. Esperando al Mesias was shown in competition at the Buenos Aires Independent Cinema Festival. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi