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About the movie

Summary

ARIEL BACK TO BUENOS AIRES follows the tumultuous siblings Davie and Diana Vega as they return to Argentina, country of their birth and learn to dance tango. They uncover secrets about their family history that call into question everything they hold to be true, but that free Davie from his existential misery. A story of how the past holds us in its embrace – only by engaging with it can we find freedom. A lacerating love letter to the city of Buenos Aires.

Synopsis

It’s hard to believe Davie and Diana Vega are siblings, they are so different from each other. Davie thinks Diana needs to loosen up. Diana feels she knows better, if only Davie would listen to her, he could get his life on track. A trip to Buenos Aires, city of their birth, is a chance for reconciliation. Maybe, Diana thinks, getting in touch with their roots can help Davie get over his depression. They have not returned to Argentina in the 30-odd years since their parents brought them to Canada as children. They don’t even speak Spanish.

Davie and Diana explore Buenos Aires and are mesmerized by a nocturnal world of tango clubs and bars, surprised by a sexy young crowd of dancers.

Diana tells Davie one of her reasons for planning their trip – she thinks Davie is adopted and wants to find out for sure.

Powerful questions about his identity that arise for Davie send him on a bender that destroys a burgeoning relationship with tango dancer, Josefina.

Returning to Toronto, Davie confront his parents. His father has a plausible cover story. Davie smells a rat and causes a scene. Davie and Diana try to dance tango in Toronto but it’s not anything like Buenos Aires. Now that their sibling relationship is called into question, everything feels different when they dance.

Davie returns to Buenos Aires, reluctantly accompanied by Diana, where they discover a truth that changes them forever.

The Director

Alison Murray is a Canadian/British screenwriter and director based between Canada and Argentina.

In 2020 shooting began on Murray’s new feature film Ariel, developed with The Film Farm and produced by Cepa Cine. Production was halted by the global pandemic but completed in June 2021. Post production took place in Toronto and Buenos Aires, with the film finally completed in fall of 2022.

Murray’s documentary Caprichosos de San Telmo, shot on location in Buenos Aires, premiered in the Toronto International Film Festival and continued Murray’s tradition of seeking to empower people living on the fringes.

Murray’s documentary Carny following the secret life of fairground workers, was broadcast on the Sundance Channel, Channel 4 UK and TVOntario. It premiered in the Hot Docs Festival and won best documentary in the Brooklyn International Film Festival.

Mouth to Mouth, Murray’s fictional feature debut (writer/director) showcased Murray’s signature choreographic style, woven into a powerful narrative about a search for belonging. It premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival and went on to win Best Feature Prizes at the Brooklyn International Film Festival, Berlin’s Britspotting Festival, and Festival D’ Annonay, France.

Train on the Brain was Murray’s documentary for Channel 4 UK and TVOntario, in which she rode the rails across North America armed with digital and Super 8 cameras, giving a platform to marginalized youth. Train on the Brain screened to a huge audience at Glastonbury Festival .

Murray studied theatre writing, dance and choreography before moving into film. After completing an MA in Film at the Royal College of Art, Murray directed music videos and short films.

In 2014 Murray and her husband Carlos Boeri won First Place in the Buenos Aires Tango Championship.

About the producer

Cepa Audiovisual is an Argentinean producer company created in 2005.
CEPA has been involved in more than twenty movies, most of them under an international co-production scheme (Spain, Brazil, France, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, etc)
We are a strong believer in teamwork not only with the Director but also inside of production to make the best film possible.
Cepa’s films were selected in international festivals and markets, including Berlinale, Venezia, Toronto, San Sebastian and Cannes.
CEPA is a member of the Argentinean Film Producers Chamber (CAIC)

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