Iván Fund’s Berlinale Silver Bear Jury Prize winner THE MESSAGE is a poetic magical realist road trip through rural Argentina in beautifully shot black and white.
Young actress Anika Bootz portraying a girl who can communicate with animals is a great find. Her character, also named Anika, travels the country with her guardians, who use her gift to make a living. We encounter many adorable animals along the way.
The trumpet and flugelhorn score by Mauro Mourelos at times brings some of Nino Rota’s music from The Godfather to mind and perfectly complements the visuals. I was also happy to hear Pet Shop Boys’ “Always on My Mind” in a film again after All of Us Strangers. I thought its use might have had something to do with the duo’s name, but it turns out that’s the song that played when Anika turned on the car stereo during filming and she really loved it.
The Message won’t be for everyone, but those looking for poetry in their films will likely find a lot to love here.
