Juan José Campanellais one of Argentina’s most important directors and screenwriters of the last 20 years, and has worked on world-renowned productions. Amazingly, his original career path was far from cinema: Campanella studied engineering for several years, and had plans to forge a future in the field. But a screening of the filmIt’s a Wonderful Life, directed and produced by Frank Capra, led him to discover his passion (per his interview withNPR), and from 1979 onwards, he never stopped working on short films, movies, and TV series. His career, however, is not only made up of national productions: Campanella studied at NYU film school and later directedThe Boy Who Cried BitchandLove Walked In, the latter in co-production with Argentina.
Like any director, Campanella has his own select group of actors who collaborate with him in many of his films, such as Ricardo Darín, Eduardo Blanco, and Soledad Villamil. Many of his productions have been awarded worldwide.El Hijo de la NoviaandEl Secreto de Sus Ojoswere nominated for the Academy Award forBest International Feature Film, with the latter winning in 2010. But besides working in films, Campanella took part in numerous TV productions as director, writer, and producer. Among the most outstanding ones areLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,House, andVientos de Agua. Let’s have a look at his greatest movies.
6Metegol (Underdogs)
Metegolis a 2013 film co-produced by Argentina and Spain, directed by Campanella and co-written by him and Eduardo Sacheri, Gastón Gorali, and Axel Kuschevatzky. Based on the short storyMemoirs of a Right Wingerby Roberto Fontanarrosa,Metegolfollows Amadeo, a young man from a small town living a mundane life. His main hobby is playing foosball at a bar, and eventually he becomes an expert at it. Some years go by, and an unwelcome visitor comes to the town: Grosso, an obnoxious young man who became a famous soccer player, announces that he has bought the town and is going to build a big stadium there. He also wants to get revenge on Amadeo, who defeated him playing foosball when they were kids. Amadeo isn’t ready, because even though he is a great foosball player, he is not very good at soccer. Luckily, the figures of the foosball table come to life, and are willing to engage in a new match with him and thus restore peace to the town.
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5El Cuento de las Comadrejas (The Weasel’s Tale)
El Cuento de las Comadrejasis, so far, Campanella’s most recent film, in which he also served as co-producer and co-writer. This remake of the 1976 filmLos Muchachos de Antes No Usaban Arsénicostars Graciela Borges, Luis Brandoni, Oscar Martínez, Marcos Mundstock, Nicolás Francella, and Clara Lago, and was released in 2019. In it, we meet Mara, a retired movie star who lives quietly with three other industry colleagues as they go through the twilight of their lives while recalling their golden years. Their harmony is disturbed by two young people who intend to snatch their old mansion, but these artists are willing to do anything in order to stop them.
4Luna de Avellaneda (Avellaneda’s Moon)
The social clubLuna de Avellanedahas been in the neighborhood for years, but due to the country’s crisis, the owner intends to turn it into a casino. The institution’s associates, who are very fond of the club, refuse to give up on their community. Therefore, Román, one of the long-time members of the club, is determined to take action, and joins forces with Graciela and Amadeo to attempt to save the place and keep their community alive. This 2004 blockbuster stars Ricardo Darín, Mercedes Morán, and Eduardo Blanco, and it is inspired by the real-life story of the Juventud Unida de Llavallol Club during the Argentinean crisis of 2001.
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3El Mismo Amor, la Misma Lluvia (Same Love, Same Rain)
Ricardo Darín and Soledad Villamil star inEl Mismo Amor, la Misma Lluvia(Same Love, Same Rain) as Jorge and Laura, a couple who engage in an on-again, off-again relationship over the course of 20 years. Jorge is a promising young writer, but he makes his living working for a magazine. Laura, on the other hand, is an aspiring actress working as a waitress. Their relationship has its ups and downs, and in the process they navigate through various social and political situations in Argentina. This 1999 film was nominated in 13 categories at the Argentine Film Critics Association Awards, and won, among them, Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay.
2El Hijo de la Novia (Son of the Bride)
In 2001,El Hijo de la Novia(Son of the Bride), written by Campanella alongside Fernando Castets, was released, a production that was a critical and box office hit, earning a Silver Condor for Best Film at the Argentine Film Critics Association Awards. In it, Ricardo Darín stars as Rafael, a man who has recently inherited his father’s restaurant and is overwhelmed by too many responsibilities. With so little time on his hands, he neglects his daughter, his partner, and even his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, let alone has time to cultivate his friendships. But following a heart attack, he is forced to reassess his life and work with his father to fulfill his mother’s lifelong dream: to get married in a church. Darín is joined in this production by Héctor Alterio and Norma Aleandro.
1El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes)
El Secreto de Sus Ojosis undoubtedly Campanella’s masterpiece, navigating a story full of mysteries to be unearthed. In it, Darín stars as Benjamín, a retired judiciary agent who has never been able to put an unsolved case behind him: the rape and murder of Liliana Colotto in 1974. Going through an existential crisis and making use of all the spare time he now has, Benjamín sets out to write a book about the case, trying to make sense of it and solve it once and for all. However, he soon finds himself once again too involved with this dark crime.El Secreto de Sus Ojoswas the most successful film of 2009, and one of the highest grossing films in the history of Argentine cinema. It was also the one which earned Campanellahis first Oscar. Darín is joined in the cast by well-known stars of this director’s productions, such as Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago and Guillermo Francella, among others.
