Director: Eliseo Subiela
This film is most famous for being ripped off by the American film K-PAX. It features the same plot: a man suddenly appears in a mental institution saying he is from another planet, a doctor then investigates this man and tries to figure out who he is and what he is. That plot synopsis is as science fiction as the movie gets, which is a good thing. The plot could easily have been used for a cliche sci-fi story, but instead the movie is ambiguous enough with its plot that the allegorical aspects come across clearly and very well.
The film is from Argentina, a heavily Catholic country, and the movie really hits at the Christ-like status of the mystery man. His sway over the rest of the patients, his all-around charm, and the way the hospital administrators refuse to believe his story all contribute to his Christ-like nature. The film never brings up religion though, and all of the parallels are subtext, and the movie is all the more better for it. The film parallels faith and mental illness. It's ambiguous enough to the point that those who are religious will find a message that criticizes modern culture for losing faith and showing how Jesus would be shut down if he appeared today, while non-believers will find evidence that supports their beliefs that those who believe they can talk to God are just plain crazy. The plot is certainly not astounding, and there are some odd technical aspects (like the music), but it is still a thought-provoking and well-done film.
Grade: B
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