The saying about family games takes on a disturbing resonance here, though they don't quite reach those depths. “Gregorio” (Martín Adjelmián) and “Mecha” (Graciela Borges) are hosting an unusual collection of relatives at their rundown country house in Argentina. As a storm gathers in the hills, they lounge by a pool that seems like it could harbor piranhas, enjoying wine while their young son and friends play with a real shotgun in the woods near a swamp. It's difficult to discern who is actually sober or in control of what’s happening until “Mecha” has an accident requiring a trip to the hospital – involving an unfortunate encounter with an hydrangea bush. What follows is a rather chaotic and strangely unrewarding look at two families behaving in the most dysfunctional ways imaginable. Boundaries seem nonexistent, emotions run wild, and the story doesn't really go anywhere. That’s likely my main issue with it. None of these characters are remotely appealing; they feel like the most selfish and spoiled people filmmaker Lucrecia Martel could invent, indulging in self-absorbed contemplation that serves no purpose – neither for themselves nor for the audience. However, there is a sense of shared experience between the two families, both equally flawed but not malicious or even fully aware of their own excesses. The acting deserves recognition, especially from Mercedes Morán (Tali), as the women dominate this drama, leaving minimal dialogue for the men and only a brief glimpse of Juan Cruz Bordeu’s “Josë” – a man whose relationship with his mother comes close to nursing! The production design is quite effective in portraying the shabbiness of their surroundings and aging cars, suggesting a family whose wealth has diminished from its former height; a sense of false luxury and an unsustainable way of life. There's a significant amount of dialogue, though mostly it’s fairly constant as it shifts between melodrama and straightforward drama, with only occasional moments of humor. Perhaps I simply wasn't in the right frame of mind, but I believe every film needs at least one character to connect with, and this one lacked that for me, unfortunately.

Source on TMDB