CHILE
OPTICAL ILLUSIONS [Ilusiones ópticas]

Cristián Jiménez's wryly observed black comedy follows a cast of characters whose market-driven, misguided pursuits of happiness leave them laughably far from it. Health firm exec Gonzalo thinks he has a prize pitch man in Juan, a blind man whose recent operation, funded by Gonzalo's firm, partially restored his sight. Gonzalo's ex-wife, Rita, an inveterate high-end shoplifter, begins an affair with mall security guard Rafa after he catches her in the act. Rafa's sister Manuela works at Gonzalo's firm, and decides to take advantage of the company's discounts on cosmetic surgery to have her breasts done. Her co-worker David pines for Manuela just as she is. As the characters' lives and livelihoods intersect in the workplace and the bedroom, Jiménez coaxes deadpan humor from their misplaced energies and mislaid plans.

DIR/SCR Cristián Jiménez; SCR Alicia Scherson; PROD Cyriac Auriol, Bruno Bettati, Pandora da Cunha Telles, Ignacio Eyzaguirre, J.J. Harting, Andrés Waissbluth. Chile, 2010, color, 105 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Wed, Sep 22, 7:00; Sat, Sep 25, 3:00