Synopsis

A city where people have lost their voices. Broadcasting company CEO, Mr. TV has stolen the public’s voice and has placed people’s lives under strict surveillance. Furthermore, he has developed a device which can use TV to control how people think. In order for this plan to be perfected, he has to kidnap the last person who ‘still has their voice’. Inspired by early German Expressionist silent films of the likes of F. W. Murnau, and Fritz Lang, La Antena is a truly experimental and unique piece which reminds us of the joys of watching classical silent films. The director, Esteban Sapir conveys a critical message of the negative effects of TV and consumer culture through the narrative while emphasizing the importance of image in film through the style and form of early silent cinema. Reflecting the director’s career in photography and cinematographer, his interest in communicating through image has him effectively removing the dialogue so that the audience can focus on image in this film. Starting as the opening film of the 2007 Rotterdam International Film Festival, this film has been invited to numerous film festivals around the world, receiving critical acclaim. The dialogue that transforms into text, filling the screen like dialogue bubbles in a comic strip, and the suspense-driven piano performance and tango music makes this film a chock full of audio-visual pleasure. (Chung Woochung) ​

Director

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  • Esteban Sapir
  • Born in Buenos Aires in 1967. He graduated from the National Film School of Argentina. As a cinematographer, he is deeply interested in the way stories are told through the emphasis on images. In 1994, he directed his feature debut Picado Fino, which won awards at several film festivals, including Berlin, Havana, and Montreal. In 1999, he founded his production company and has since produced over 250 advertisements, music videos, and short films. In 2003, he directed a documentary about Shakira’s world tour.