Films & Events
The Paranoids
An aimless, narcoleptic loner who works children’s birthday parties for a living, aspiring screenwriter Luciano, lives in fear—fear of success, STDs, and his doorman, for starters. We meet Luciano on a typical day: He passes out at work, obsessively calls an HIV helpline after a random sexual encounter, and unintentionally sends his best friend to the hospital. Things get even more uncomfortable for Luciano when his childhood friend Manuel, a successful producer, returns from Madrid with his beautiful girlfriend, Sofiá. In town to make an Argentine version of his hit TV show, “The Paranoids,” Manuel wants Luciano to write for it. Especially unnerving is Luciano’s discovery that he’s the inspiration for the show's main character, who even shares his name. When Manuel suddenly leaves town on business, Sofía stays behind in the apartment—a decision that changes them both. With an understated yet stylized approach, director Gabriel Medina maintains a constant sense of insularity and unease throughout the film, using black humor as occasional relief. This is done so well that when Luciano finally cuts loose at the end—in a brilliant, character-driven dance scene—it feels like a one-man revolution.
Cast & Crew
Director: Gabriel Medina
Producer: Sebastian Aloi, Nicolas Tacconi
Editor: Nicholas Goldbart
Screenwriter: Gabriel Medina, Nicolas Gueilburt
Cinematographer: Lucio Bonelli
Music: Guillermo Guareschi
Principal Cast: Daniel Hendler, Jazmín Stuart, Walter Jakob, Martín Feldman, Miguel Dedovich
Filmography: Debut Feature Film
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(3 reviews)
user reviews
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The Paranoids, Jun 06, 2009
By Katherine Rice
“I loved this movie, acting and dialogue feels very real, beautiful shots, and love the music. Kind of a slow pensive dark delightful finding yourself comedy.”
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Oddly charming, Jun 09, 2009
By Zheng Wang
“The opening shot of this movie shows a toy gorilla falling slow-motion in the woods. Like that opening, the movie is a little odd, yet oddly charming.”
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Real Characters, Jun 11, 2009
By christan van slyke
“I really enjoyed how this was a film about a piece of someone's life. There was no need to know the "before hand or after hand." This was a chunk of someone's life. I am hugely into character driven pieces and found Luciano a fascinating soul. I adored his dancing!!! There was a nice mix of black”
… full review
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