Aves sin rumbo: A dusty, drifting kind of watch

Is this for you?

Look, if you want a tight, modern thriller, run away now. Aves sin rumbo is for the kind of person who enjoys watching old, slightly frayed film stock and doesn't mind a story that wanders off into the weeds. If you get impatient when people talk in circles for five minutes, you’re probably going to hate it. 🐦

It’s got that specific, mid-century melodrama feel where everyone is constantly looking tragic while standing near a window. You know the vibe. Agustín Irusta is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and honestly, the man deserves a break for how much he’s asked to emote in the shadows.

The rhythm of it all

The pacing is… well, it’s a choice. There are moments where the dialogue just hangs there, suspended in the air like dust motes in a projector beam. I found myself checking my watch, but then something small—like the way María Severini tilts her head during a scene that feels entirely unnecessary—pulled me back in.

It’s not as polished as The Purchase Price, that’s for sure. It feels way more like a local theater production that somehow got captured on film. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s got that raw, unfinished energy.

• The lighting in the cafe scenes is surprisingly moody, if a bit uneven.
• I swear some of the extras in the background are just waiting for the lunch break to start.
• The music swells up at the absolute wrong times, which makes it kind of funny.
• That one long shot of the street? It’s arguably a minute too long, but I kind of dug it.

It reminded me a bit of the aimless energy in I Graduated, But..., just with way more cigarette smoke. You can feel the movie trying to figure out its own identity while it’s still being filmed. It’s messy, sure. But it’s a human kind of messy. 🎞️

Honestly, the ending just sort of… stops. It doesn't wrap up with a bow. It’s like the characters realized they were tired of being in a movie and just decided to go home. I respect that level of commitment to being unbothered.