Guillermo Francella, alongside directors Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat, the creative team behind Disney+/Star+ hit The Boss, have released the first fast-paced international trailer for their new anthology movie, Homo Argentum. This eagerly anticipated film, positioned as a standout Argentine title this year, aims to capture significant box office success domestically and make waves internationally.
Scheduled for theatrical release in Argentina on August 14, Homo Argentum is distributed by Star Distribution, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The project is developed by Buenos Aires-based Pampa Films, known for productions such as Chinese Takeaway (2011), the acclaimed Disney 2019 series Monzón: A Knockout Blow, and the documentary breakout Muchachos. The Spanish production company Gloriamundi (Bellas Artes, Chinese Takeaway) also produces, with co-production support from Rhino Film, Dea Film, and Blue Film.
Francella stars in all 16 episodes of this anthology movie, which, according to the directors, offers a sharp exploration of the contradictions and hypocrisies embedded in modern urban life. The trailer suggests a darkly comedic and psychological portrayal of characters navigating the pressures of life in a sprawling metropolis. Cohn and Duprat describe the film as a deep dive into “buried contradictions, desires, frustrations, emergencies, paranoia, and egotism” that reflect the complexities of contemporary social life, exposing profound moral dilemmas.
The movie’s core revolves around Argentine idiosyncrasies but also resonates as a broader commentary on human behavior today. The accumulation of human foibles and absurdities draws comparisons to the cult classic Wild Tales, affirming its distinctly Argentine flavor.
Francella’s versatility shines through an array of characters, showcasing his wide-ranging acting skills. From a smiling illegal street currency trader and a track-suited priest to a widower awkwardly introducing his new partner to his children, the roles are diverse. Other glimpses include a timid security guard with a younger lover, a grandfather gifting a robot toy, a lively partygoer leading a conga line, and a father urging his nearly 40-year-old son to leave home.
Two episodes highlighted in the trailer stand out for their depth and setting. One, filmed in Sicily, follows Francella’s character on a journey to his ancestral mountain village, where an encounter with an elderly widow ultimately forces him to flee, crushing his hopes of reclaiming his heritage. Another episode presents a film director at an awards gala, face painted in Indigenous style, who later films an Indigenous community with biting sarcasm. His disparaging remark, “The elevator doesn’t go to the top floor. They’re as thick as a brick,” sets the tone for the film’s candid social commentary.
The trailer intentionally teases segments of the stories without revealing full resolutions, promising an insightful and often humorous reflection on life in a modern city. The movie challenges commonly held beliefs through its characters, such as: “Argentinians stand out individually. They are all about family,” and “We care about others. We have values.” Yet it also questions national identity with lines like, “I can’t understand why we can’t succeed as a country.”
Homo Argentum draws inspiration from the Golden Age of Italian cinema anthologies like the 20-part The Monsters and classic sarcastic Italian comedies such as Down and Dirty, An Average Little Man, and Viva Italia. Francella and the directors openly admire these films, and their influence is evident throughout this latest project.
The directors are also known for their acclaimed feature Official Competition, starring Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar Martínez—the latter winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for The Distinguished Citizen, also directed by Cohn and Duprat. Their recent work includes the series Nada, notable for featuring Robert De Niro alongside Argentina’s Luis Brandoni.
