The Aerial

The Aerial or La Antena, is a 2007 Argentinian film shot in the style of a silent era film. Everyone in The City has lost their voice, though people still communicate through reading lips, or possibly they're able to see the words, as what the character says will appear near them, and they can sometimes interact with it. Mr. TV controls the city, both with his television programs and his "TV Food" some cookie-like thing with icing in a hypnotic spiral on it.

But his plans go beyond that, as he wants to use the power of The Voice, a singer who is seemingly the only person in town who can still speak, to gain even greater control. The only hope is that Ana and her estranged parents can help the Voice's son, Tomas, counteract the plan.

Director Esteban Sapir throws a lot of ideas in there. The media controlling what we see and know, taking away people's ability to be heard, stealing their ideas and then shipping them back out as something bland and generic. People with power never being satisfied, always needing take more from people who already have much less. There's a strong subtext about Jews being oppressed and singled out, until partway through when the movie decides to simply punch you in the face with the symbolism. There's also some references to the Soviet Union in there, like a space helmet Tomas wears when he goes outdoors that has "CCCP" on the forehead. The idea that people can be in suffering, agony, but if no can or will hear (or they believe no one can), they find ways to endure, maybe even stop realizing what's happening to them.

I looked at a few reviews after, trying to get a firmer grasp on the film, that talked about how much the movie throws at you, and how it can be difficult to keep up. I didn't find that to be the case. There was a lot going on, but the movie belabors the point at times, so that I found myself impatiently waiting for it to move on. Yes, the words are being taken, I get it, what is happening to them? What is the purpose?

But it is an interesting movie. A nice mixture of old-school silent film style and technique, combined with a few newer tricks. The friendship between Ana and Tomas is played well. There are a lot of nice small touches, little details that add to the experience.