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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 14.Nov.25

300 Letters #300Cartas
Review by Rich Cline | 4/5

dir Lucas Santa Ana
scr Gustavo Cabana, Lucas Santa Ana
prd Murray Dibbs, Lucas Santa Ana
with Cristian Mariani, Gaston Frias, Bruno Giganti, Jorge Thefs, Franco Mosqueiras, Jordan Romero, Francisco Cottet, Esmeralda Segui, Tomas Litte, Lucas Santa Ana, Lucero Cordoba, Lucas Provenzano
release US 14.Nov.25
25/Argentina 1h30

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There's a cheeky vibe to this comedy from Argentina, which inventively traces the arc of a relationship both in the present and in retrospect. Its central point is that even people who aren't looking for something serious want a deeper connection. This couple's relational highs and lows are beautifully directed by Lucas Santa Ana, and scenes are played with insight by actors who are relaxed, authentic and sexy.

On the first anniversary of his relationship, Jero (Mariani) is blindsided when his boyfriend Tom (Frias) simply walks away, leaving a box of 300 numbered letters written throughout their time together. His friend Esteban (Giganti) comes around to help make some sense of this. Even though he urges Jero to move on, he starts reading the letters, reliving his time with Tom. Their relationship started out free and easy, then grew more awkward as things began getting serious. Jero can't believe he missed the signs, knowing that they were in love, weaving their lives together.

As he reads the letters, Jero discovers that Tom was drawn in by the sex and then surprised by the deeper connection that quickly grew between them. There's an intriguing contrast between their jobs, Jero in crypto and Tom as a poet and teacher. Both of them are happy to remain casual, but the issue of a stronger bond repeatedly comes up. Meanwhile, there's the younger guy (Mosqueiras) crushing on Tom, and then later as he reads the letters, Jero hooks up with Esteban's hot friend (Romero).

Mariani and Frias are superbly natural as two young guys who are trying to avoid romance, even as they begin to realise that they're already too far gone. The actors have a loose physicality, often shirtless in the warm weather, always up for playful sex. They nicely underplay the bigger emotions that emerge along the way, which makes them easy to identify with. Giganti adds some nice textures of his own as Jero's straight-talking friend. He genuinely cares.

Jero can't understand how he fell in love with someone who could do something this cruel to him. And he becomes increasingly obsessive about finding the answer. Revelations and observations in these letters frequently remind Jero that not everything about love is laughter and happiness. They also help him see their time together through another perspective. And along the way, this enjoyable and moving film has insightful things to say about why relationships so often fail.

themes, language, sexuality 12.Nov.25

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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL