Professor Marcelo Pena (Marcelo Subiotto) lectures at the prestigious Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Buenos Aires (known as PUAN).   When the Head of the Department dies from a heart attack, everyone aims to protect his legacy while fighting to compete for the coveted position.  It is chaotic.  Marcelo, hoping to be automatically promoted finds he is challenged by a charismatic and opportunist colleague Rafael Sujarchuk (Leonardo Sbaraglia) who (successfully) increases his cachet by name-dropping contemporary thinkers as friends and boasting about his experiences in Frankfurt and North America.

“One of the key ideas in Heidegger's philosophy is that human beings have a unique relationship with time. He argued that we are always "thrown" into the world at a articular moment in time, and that our existence is defined by our relationship to the past, present, and future. This means that our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world is constantly evolving, and that we are never fixed or static.” (Cultural Reader)

In

Leonardo Sbaraglia as Rafael Sujarchuk, with Marcel Subiotto as Marcelo Pena

Naishtat and Alché seem to have used Heidegger’s Dasein principle as a starting point in this story, as the protagonist tries to find his way through the contrary winds, as he finds it hard to live up to the Dasein principles that he loves to teach. 

Rafael Sujarchuk’s piano playing, singing in French and speaking in German at odd moments mesmerizes his audiences and together with his wit and charm, (and the fact that he is dating a famous actress),  has a huge effect on everyone.  Sujarchuk manages to thwarts Marcelo’s attempts to consolidate his position making him feel totally insecure.

While only a handful turn up for his lectures while Sujarchuk’s ‘Masterclass’ is overflowing, the somewhat inept and socially awkward, Marcelo finds it hard even to maintain his dignity, even finding himself accidentally covered in baby poo when trying to be sociable . He seemingly is unable to adapt to the demands of changing circumstances. He even forgets to attend his son’s event at the school.

For a person who has lived by routine and solid dependency, these changes are almost life threatening.  At one point he is so deep in worry, that he almost gets run- over.

 All the while, a back-drop of growing unrest in the city of Buenos Aires encroaches, as street demonstrations lead to them being shut behind the shutters in a café and student activism invades the classrooms.  Marcelo paints a painful figure pushed about by events he unable to control, yet when the University is closed through lack of funds, it is he who stands up and takes command.

Is there much comedy in philosophy? Well, hard to say, but certainly it is amusing to see Marcelo trying to teach the principles of Heidegger’s deep thoughts to an aged and wealthy Amelia (a wonderful Zulema Galerin) who snores through most of it. There is loads or irony that attacks the hypocrisies of the bourgeoisie, and subtle throwaways during the lectures and  in the way Philosophy is questioned and explained.

When a magician cancels his show at the celebration of old Amelia’s birthday, she is determined to have a philosophical ‘show’ by Marcelo to entertain her guests. Her daughter’s idea of a suitable costume does not go down well.  In some ways, it is not easy to warm to Marcelo. He is hermetic and closes down when insecure, but a lot of this changes when we finally see him taking command and later, after deciding to attend a philosophy symposium in Bolivia, he opens up to his unusual and different audience in a way that becomes profoundly moving.

PUAN has just won a clutch of awards at the 2023  San Sebastian International Film Festival. Benjamin Naishstat and María Aché won first prize for 'Best Screenplay' and  Marcelo Subiotto  won 'Best Actor'.  A perfect premiere outing!

 In effect, all the performances are spot on and the casting is very good throughout. The boy, Gaspar Offenhenden, who plays Marcelo’s son, is mesmerizing and no doubt has a promising future lying ahead. I also felt that the end credits were very appropriate and well done.

Writer/ director Benjamin Naishtat was born in Buenos Aires (1986) where he studied at the University of Cinema. His previous works have all reflected a deep interest and concern for his country and the direction of its politics, from History of Fear ( 2014) to the dark Rojo (2018) , (see https://www.latinolife.co.uk/articles/rojo-2018-dir-benjamin-naishtat)  where he portrayed  people's reactions to the growing violence of extreme right wing groups  encouraged by  the military junta and The Movement  (2015) . Having won at least  12 awards and received 26 nominations, his reputation is assured.

Benjamin Naishstat and María Alché shooting Puan

His motivations are shared by his co-writer and co-director María Alché. Also born in Buenos Aires, she studied with Lucrecia Martel at the National Film School (ENERC) in Buenos Aires. A winner of 7 awards and 12 nominations, she followed her work with Martel on La Niña Santa (2004) by wowing audiences with A Family Submerged (2018).

PUAN is as much about Argentina as it is about the hapless professor. His story echoes the country’s lack of stability and dependency, jobs are at risk, even when things appear normal, salaries are not paid. This film gently points to the need for action and draws a parallel with the protagonist and the fate of the country. Can thinkers make a difference? Is there such a thing as Latin American Thinking?  This hangs in the air as a term banded about by the Bolivian Doctor of Philosophy who organized the symposium.

It remains to be seen, as elections loom in Argentina later this year, with a not very palatable selection of candidates!

PUAN 2023 / International Sales LUXBOX

Writer/ Directors :Benjamin Naishstat and María Alché / Producers Federico Eibuczyc, Barbara Sarasola Day/ Barbara Francisco Mendivil / Axel Kuschevatsky / Giovanni Pompili /Cinematographer: Hélène Louvart / Sound: Fernando Ribero/ Editor:Livia Serpa /Music: Santiago Dolan / Art Director: Julieta Dolinsky /Graphic design:Laurindo Feliciano

 Cast: Marcelo Subiotto  / Leonardo Sbaraglia /Julieta Zulberberg  / Cristina Banegas /widow Alejandra Flechner / Gaspar Offenhenden  /Zulema Galerin