by Joseph Davis, Contributing Writer
Sometimes when writing for this series, I try to match up a historical event in a region from the perspective of the people who were there, not just in terms of what we see on screen but also from the people telling the story. In other cases, I find a movie that just has something to say and wants to say it. For Mi Obra Maestra, it very much is the latter. A story about an artist, an art dealer, and someone who is striving for purpose, you have the potential to have a story that can dive deep into several areas of both art as a whole and the art of media. So, for this month’s Out of Market, I’m going to dive into this art film (pun intended) and see if it’s worth seeing from an American standpoint.
(Trigger warnings about this movie: suicide and assisted suicide is discussed and hinted at in this movie. While not directly depicted, discretion is advised.)
Probably the most interesting concept I feel in this movie is the idea of what art is. One of our characters in Renzo Nevi (Louis Brandoni) is an artist who has fallen from the mainstream, doing what he loves in a world that doesn’t see his work in the same way that he does. Early on it makes him bitter, someone who is set in his ways and that is tired of everyone wanting him to be something he’s not, often to the chagrin or embarrassment of the person closest to him. It helps to set up his story, the moment that changes his life and makes him question his purpose to the point of wondering why he is alive, and in the end helps to bring him to a purpose where he feels he belongs. In contrast, his friend Arturo Silva (Guillermo Francella) is an art dealer driven primarily by money, but who still feels a connection to Renzo as his only friend. However, what Arturo and Renzo see in art are vastly different, often leading them into conflict but eventually bringing them together. This constant struggle in the world of art is fascinating to see on the screen, itself a form of art, in terms of the beauty of it compared to the financial bottom line.
On the thread of the art, the way this film is shot is very clever, setting up scenes almost as if setting up a shot for a painting. What the film chooses to center on and the direction of the story fits into the idea of the feel of art. At the very beginning it asks you to essentially give yourself to what is being presented and to look into the art itself for a deeper meaning, and I greatly appreciate this movie for it. Some moments do hit odd, and some parts feel like they don’t hit like you may want, but isn’t that in itself the purpose of art? While some people may see glory in a moment, someone else might see sorrow. The fact it’s making choices that you may not expect in itself is indeed what art is.
The final bit I want to touch on is the idea of finding your purpose. On multiple occasions we see the character of Alex (Raúl Arévalo), who first seeks Renzo to teach him before going on his own journey. I feel this is the final piece to this movie. The source of both finding purpose and to determine what is the right thing to do, compared to the likes of Arturo, who while wanting to help his friend, also wants to find a way to make a profit at the same time. It’s two different areas of trying to find value — value in oneself compared to monetary value. It’s a struggle that can be seen in many aspects of life, from work to what we watch, that is intrinsic in art. Some might see something that moves them personally, while others will see something that has an intrinsic value to it. It fits perfectly into a movie about art, where those who look at the financial value might go to extreme lengths to defend their own end.
Ultimately, art is subjective. I think that fact is why I would say someone might want to take a chance on this one. Any film is a piece of art in its own way, be it good or bad, and I feel like this movie dives into it in a way I can appreciate. Mi Obra Maestra explores art and the artist from both the eyes of the financial, the humanitarian, and from their own perspective. There are some moments that are much more adult rated and that can be triggering, which can greatly affect how someone might see this film, and that’s always something one should consider when viewing artwork. It’s something to look into and to discuss how one sees artwork that is presented to us, which is a message I can appreciate.
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