Magic Farm
Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff and Simon Rex star in Amalia Ulman’s indie satire about a too-hip media company on a clueless quest in Argentina.
After successfully reporting on stories like niche Mexican fashion-footwear trends and teenage exorcists in Bolivia, a gaggle of self-involved documentary makers leave New York to find their next clickbait subject – a singer in a bunny outfit called Super Carlitos – in San Cristóbal, Argentina. Stronger on vibes than actual investigative journalism skills, they soon realise they’ve gone to the wrong small town; and, rather than opening their eyes to the health crises affecting the local community who hesitantly let them in, decide to stick around and make up a viral story instead.
New York–based Argentinian filmmaker and artist Amalia Ulman (El Planeta, MIFF 2021) brings a droll sense of humour and playfulness to this Sundance-premiering, Berlinale-selected story of solipsistic culture shock, as well as appearing onscreen as the group’s camera person and occasional translator. Also featuring Chloë Sevigny as an irate presenter, Alex Wolff as a bratty producer, newcomer Joe Apollonioas as an amorous sound guy and Simon Rex asa higher-up with better things to do, the US cast is complemented by local performers, including a memorable turn by Camila del Campo. Carlos Rigo Bellver’s irreverent cinematography, making use of 360-degree and GoPro cameras (sometimes positioned on the head of a dog or horse), matches Ulman’s loose, conversational approach throughout.
“A formally radical, biting satire about odious, privileged Americans adrift ... operates with refreshing visual anarchy.” – Variety
Tickets
For information about the accessible services being offered at MIFF, please visit miff.com.au/access. If you require any access service, such as wheelchair/step-free access, for any MIFF session, please call 03 8660 4888 or email boxoffice@miff.com.au to book your ticket.
You might also like ...
What do isolation tanks, dolphin intelligence and psychedelic therapy have in common? You’re about to find out.
In this absurdist satire, a woman is magically transformed into a chair – and discovers that everyone likes her better that way.
A cunning wannabe enters the orbit of an ascendant celebrity in this thrillingly tense debut about the hunger for – and hollowness of – stardom.