TANGO ABRAZOS (PRACTICING EMBRACE)

Drama

Directed by: Metod Pevec

Format: DVD

Code: 321241

EAN: 3838898321241

Metod Pevec / Slovenia / 2012 / 89 min / Slovenian / drama

IMDB 6,9

Synopsis

Tjaša and Lena manage to entice their partners to dance classes. Their partners, typical, real men (Leon and Uroš) initially offer a decent amount of resistance, then grudgingly accept the idea, merely for the sake of peace. However, their new pastime seems to bring less and less peace into their lives. At the beginning of the story, both couples look very stable and committed, with signs of a peaceful routine that has settled into their lives after several years. It seems that the right persons are in the right relationships. Tango, however, stirs things a bit. Already in the first lessons, the participants are faced with the Latin culture of touching, and with the set tango routine of changing dance partners frequently. Tango, by definition, is "walking in the embrace," explains the dance teacher. It turns out that the four protagonists are "merely physically" matched better in the opposite combinations than in their everyday life. This surprising dance harmony and spontaneity kindles the first feelings of jealousy. The two men begin to take dance lessons much more enthusiastically than it was expected. Their female partners are trying to be more pleasant and more appealing than it would suffice for their partners. All four begin to take a dangerous interest in each other. If the two couples initially had a lot in common and seemed well matched, they now become intrigued by attractive differences that they sense in the persons from the other couple. The thing is that they do not know nor can be sure whether the thrill comes from the "mere physicality of tango" or is it a real, personal interest, which is in clear conflict with their committed relationships. This uncertainty coincides with a joint decision to spend News Year's Eve together. The night is exciting, but the morning brings a sobering effect.

Actors: Jana Zupančič, Uroš Fürst, Pia Zemljič, Primož Pirnat, Janja Frank, Uroš Andič, Lidija Sušnik, Laren Polič Zdravič, Drago Milinović, Karin Komljanec, Jasmina Jamnik, Marko Mandić

Director: Metod Pevec

Screenwriter: Metod Pevec

Director of photography: Axel Schneppat

Editor: Janez Bricelj

Make up artist: Gabrijela Fleischman

Costume designer: Katja Hrobat

Production designer: Dušan Milavec

Music by: Jure Tori, Laren Polič Zdravič, Andrej Guček

Producer: Danijel Hočevar

Produced by: Vertigo

Tango

The Argentine tango is perhaps the only dance that discusses passion and even lust. An ardent fan of the tango will probably claim that there is more eroticism in the tango than in an average marriage. The tango allows a very sensual contact and communication of the bodies, while commanding distance and glorifying the art of containment at the same time. In Tango Abrazos the eroticism of tango is just a sensual trigger, which causes a good deal of confusion in the relationships of two couples. The boundary between the sensual and emotional suddenly becomes very elusive or even slippery.

The thirties

Judging by the criteria of drama, Tango Abrazos is a light hearted film. Two content and on the outside even happy couples in their mid-thirties decide to take dance lessons. Maybe it's the tango, or maybe it is them and their internal intimate uncertainty - but fairly soon their emotional or love compasses begin pointing in mixed directions. Their solid committed relationships begin showing gaps; new mutual attractions become increasingly difficult to hide or suppress. Chances are they have just entered the crisis of the thirties, but they have some serious choices to make and some responsible decisions to take.

Festivals / awards

Festival of Slovenian Films, Slovenia, 2012: Vesna Award for Best Director (Metod Pevec), Vesna Award for Best Actor (Uroš Uroš Fürst), Vesna Award for Best Actress (Jana Zupančič)

Trieste Film Festival, Italy, 2012: In Competition

Director's statement about the film

Obviously dance is my eternal temptation. I can hardly make a movie without a dance scene. This time the story is literally paced in the rhythm of tango. Still, Tango Abrazos is not a dance movie, it is just lessons. And again, it is about relationships. On the other hand, the relationship and chemistry between tango dancers is the fundamental philosophy of tango. Sometimes I wonder why the Slovenes prefer to shake hands instead of hug. Why, unlike many nations, we are too shy to hug when greeting somebody in everyday life. A hug can be a very simple, spontaneous greeting with our whole body, but no, we prefer to offer a cold handshake. One of the most elementary definitions of tango is that tango is like "walking in an embrace". And in that embrace, which is a very direct and eloquent conversation of two bodies, I saw the seeds of a very Slovenian story.

- Metod Pevec