Review of The Tango Lesson (1997) by Jonathon C — 28 Feb 2010

One of the few arthouse films that I've enjoyed, one of the few that I've seen, and one of the few that I would give time to seeing. This film must have a *very* niche audience, who I dare say would adore the style- which would suite perfectly students and teachers of modern art schools and of the bohemian sub-culture in the UK and perhaps Europe. It just so happens that I liked it too.

The dancing is what really grabbed me. There is nothing quite so beautiful and exotic as the Argentine Tango- and this is the real thing. There is lots of very well filmed dancing in both black and white and colour, in some very artistic settings- such as spontaneously while on romantic walks along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, and in vacant apartments in Buenos Aires.

The film is in a sense about itself (Wah? I hear you say). That's right, the director (Sally Potter) plays the lead role in this, her own film, which is about a director who wants to learn the Argentine Tango from a star Tango dancer (who is actually played by a genuinely acclaimed Argentine Tango dancer from Europe), Pablo Veron. He in turn wants her to make him an actor in exchange for teaching her the Tango (confusing isn't it?), and so here he appears on screen, as her teacher.

I did have an appreciation of the style of the film, which does take some forbearance in places- and I was amazed and enthralled by the dancing. Since seeing this film learning the Argentine Tango has been on my to do list before I eventually kick the bucket. It is a very mature and beautiful film.