Paper short abstract:

In this paper will analyse a recurrent theme in New Argentine Cinema: the exploration of urban decay, and social and economic crises, through flâneur-like figures.

Paper long abstract:

In this paper will analyse what I argue is a recurrent theme in many of the films of New Argentine Cinema: the exploration of urban decay, and social and economic crises, through flâneur-like figures. I will argue that, although not unproblematic, this figure - made popular by the likes of Baudelaire, Benjamin, Kracauer, et al - still has analytic potential, while it also remains particularly unexplored in relation to New Argentine Cinema. Concentrating mainly in La fe del volcán (Poliak, 2001) and Ronda nocturna (Cozarinsky, 2005), but referring also to more canonical films of this movement, such as Pizza, birra, faso (Stagnaro and Caetano, 1998) and Rapado (Rejtman, 1992), I will also show how through the figure of the flâneur it is possible to produce readings that do not depend solely upon narrative (many times weak in these films), thus inserting the films within a broader socio-political context that many times is not at first sight evident.