LA NINA SANTA (THE HOLY GIRL)

Argentina, 2004, 106 minutes, Colour.
Mercedes Moran, Carlos Belloso, Maria Alejan
Directed by Lucrecia Martel.

As the film opens, we hear sacred music, girls talk about their vocation in life but the more explicit aspects of Argentinian Catholicism make few further appearances, except for the central teenage girl memorizing the Litany of Loreto and deciding what her mission is at that moment. The first part of the film suggests that it will dramatise and explore themes of religion and emerging sexuality but that is not the case. It is the emerging sexuality that is central.

However, the setting for this drama has a Robert- Altman feel about it. It is a rundown hotel in the provinces which still offers facilities for conferences. We wander about with the camera, meeting characters, often briefly, moving on, overhearing bits of conversation, listening in to discussions, watching the different ways in which people criss-cross. In many ways, the central girl, Amalia, sometimes gets lost in all of this. Her mother, Helena, is a far more imposing presence. The other important character is a doctor attending the conference, a married man yet he makes a sexual move on the girl which would be treated as harassment if not some molestation. While she is intrigued as well as upset, she them makes it her mission to save the doctor.

There is quite a lot going on in people's lives, in the running of the hotel, in the progress of the conference, in the emotional dramas. And then the film just stops. The director clearly thinks that she has offered us the data. Now, we have to provide whatever ending we choose or want.

1. A portrait of life in provincial Argentina? Men and women, adolescent girls? Good intentions, bad consequences?

2. The title, the reference to Amalia? The relevance of holiness? The discussion of vocation, her sense of mission, to redeem Dr Jano?

3. The town, homes, the streets, the hotel? The interiors of the hotel? The rooms, the conference room, the kitchen? The rooms of the staff? The musical score?

4. The opening, the religious song and its solemnity? The group of girls, their discussions, photos, sexuality, kissing? The discussion about vocation, the explanation of vocation, God's voice, the Devil's voice, a sense of what one had to do in life, and affect others?

5. Life within the hotel, the Robert Altman-like treatment of characters and issues, events cross-cutting? The narrative structure of the film - the time of the conference, the moving in and out of everybody's story? The ending, the film just stopping and the audiences having to create their own ending?

6. Amalia, her age, her relationship with her mother, her absent father, her stepmother pregnant with twins? Her friendship with Josefina? Their talking? Standing watching the musicians in the street, her being touched by Dr Jano? Her watching him, his later approach? Her reaction, pleased, horrified, discussing it with Josefina? Life within the hotel, her good relationship with her mother, their discussions? In the room, asleep? Wandering around the hotel, the encounters with Dr Jano, her provocatively following him? The swimming, the sexual activity in her room? The religious dimension? Her memorising the Litany of Loreto? The portrait of an Argentinian girl, of 2003, religious, sexual awakenings, sense of mission?

7. Helena, owning the hotel, divorced, the news about her ex-husband's twins? Her love for Amalia? The running of the hotel, with the staff, Mirta and her demands? The rest of the staff? Welcoming the doctors? The attraction to Dr Jano? Meeting with him, the proposal that she participate in the play? Their discussions, rehearsals? The kissing? The performance - and the future when she found out the truth?

8. Dr Jano, arrival, age and experience, wife and children? With the other doctors, having to share the room? His touching Amalia in the street? His moving away? His shock to find that she was Helena's daughter? His bringing the wife and children? His trying to avoid Amalia, her approaches, kissing him, trying to explain her mission? His wanting to go, the hesitation about the performance? His wife telling him about the doctor who had harassed the girl? His future?

9. Josefina, friendship with Amalia, their discussions? Her relationship with her boyfriend, caught by her mother? Her telling her mother about Amalia and trying to defend herself? Their coming to the hotel - her parents, their attitude, to the boy? Waiting to tell Helena?

10. Freddie, his relationship with Helena, at the hotel, helping out?

11. The other doctors, the doctor who drank and approached the girls, his leaving? The other doctors and their participation in the talks, the role-play?

12. The outcome of the film - its just stopping? Amalia's future and Dr Jano, her sense of herself, sexuality, vocation? Josefina and her friendship? Helena's reaction to the truth, attitude to Dr Jano? Dr Jano and his career, his marriage?