By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Daniel Burman
Starring: Gabriel Schultz | Jorge Drexler | Luis Brandoni | Norma Aleandro | Valeria Bertuccelli
Original language title: La suerte en tus manos
Country: argentina
Year: 2012
Running time: 110
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1904835/
Bruce says: “Argentina is famous for taking in what is believed to be hundreds of Nazi war criminals during the Peron years. What many people don’t know is that Buenos Aires has one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel, down in recent years from a high of about 300 thousand. In previous films such as EMPTY NEST, FAMILY LAW, THE LOST EMBRACE and WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH writer/director Daniel Burman has documented the Jewish experience in Argentina. Some of his earlier films appear to be autobiographical, not so for ALL IN.
“Uriel (Jorge Drexler) is divorced with two children. He also is addicted to poker. Fortunately he has inherited his father’s
business which basically deals in currency conversion. His assistant Germán (Gabriel Schultz) does most of the work which
gives Uriel plenty of time for poker and for his other passion, taking women to motels. He is known is some circles as The Motel
Guy. His womanizing has gotten out of hand and he confesses to his family doctor (Luis Brandoni), ‘Doctor, I can’t stop.’ Uriel
claims, with a second breath, that he has everything under control and that his affliction is not an addiction. His solution: a
vasectomy. By coincidence Dr. Weiss recommends a doctor in Rosario, a large city in northeastern Argentina where Uriel is going on a business trip. Uriel also happens to be a habitual liar. He lies to his children, his ex-wife, his friends. He can’t help
himself; he always says what others want to hear or whatever will smooth things over in the easiest possible way.
“Gloria (Valeria Bertuccelli) has been living abroad and has returned to Buenos Aires. Her effete boyfriend follows her but by the time he gets to Buenos Aires he learns that Gloria has gone to Rosario with her mother Susan (Norma Aleandro) famous author and literary critic. Guess what? Gloria was the all-time favorite of The Motel Guy and he, the only man she has really cared for. The problem is their relationship was strictly physical. Shortly after Uriel exits the Centro de Urologia he runs into Gloria at his hotel. She tells Uriel the truth about her life in the past decade; he lies about his profession and why he can’t have sex at the moment. He does confess to having an ex-wife and two children, however.
“The film uses poker as metaphor in obvious ways. Dr. Weiss, himself a poker aficionado, tells Uriel, ‘Bluffing isn’t the only way
to win.’ Uriel decides not to ruin his second chance with Gloria and he begins to court her instead of screwing her. Gloria
becomes frustrated as the film hurdles towards a dual climax of a poker tournament and a reunion concert of a rock group that Gloria once loved and who Uriel claims to know and manage.
“Burman has assembled a good stable of actors: Valeria Bertuccelli (XXY); Jorge Drexler, a musician in his first acting role
and a total charmer, to boot; and Norma Aleandro, famous for her roles in A SOLDIER’S STORY, LIVE-IN MAID and SON OF THE BRIDE. The story is a bit on the light side but Burman is often insightful even as he is poking fun. 3.5 cats
“(ALL IN screened as part of the 2012 Tribeca International film Festival.)”