Cita en las estrellas: A Bit Dusty, But Sweet

Is this for you?

If you have a soft spot for classic Argentine cinema and don't mind a movie that feels like it’s being performed in a shoebox, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need pacing that doesn't feel like a slow Sunday afternoon or you're allergic to black-and-white theatrical sets, stay away. It’s definitely not for everyone.

I started watching this expecting something light. I got something that felt like a long, polite argument about who loves who.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Cita en las estrellas (1934) through its definitive frames.

The whole thing is just packed with characters who talk way too much. Like, really too much. They spend half the runtime explaining their feelings to each other in hallways. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in

Osvaldo Miranda is doing that thing where he’s trying to be the coolest guy in the room. He’s fine, I guess. But honestly, the side characters keep stealing the focus whenever they aren't forced to stand in a line and deliver lines.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Cita en las estrellas (1934) through its definitive frames.

There is this one scene where they are outside—the title implies stars, right?—and the background painting looks so flat I thought a breeze might blow it over. It’s charming in a cheap way, I suppose.

I found myself wondering if they ever actually left the studio. Every room looks exactly like the last one, just with a different vase placed near the window. It creates this weirdly claustrophobic feeling, like a The Beauty Parlor set gone wrong.

• The lighting is surprisingly moody for a comedy.
• Nobody ever seems to sit down properly.
• The dialogue is sharp, if you can keep up with the constant bickering.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even trying to be one. It’s just a movie about people being silly in formal wear. Sometimes that’s enough. Other times, it just makes me want to turn the volume down and watch the shadows on the wall.

Also, the ending? Completely saw it coming from the first ten minutes. But I didn't hate it. It’s just... fine. A little dusty, maybe. Like finding an old perfume bottle in the back of a drawer. It still works, but it smells like a different decade. 🌌