An Odd Turn (2024) “Berlinale” Short Film Review: A Wholesome yet Bizarre Package on Inflation and Desires

Francisco Lezama’s short film “An Odd Turn” (Un movimiento extrano, 2024) has a peculiar quality to it. You may experience a disarray of sensations during a brief moment, but gradually, everything will start to fall into place. The way it unfolds will leave you bewildered and, most importantly, shocked at times. The question is, is it oddly intriguing within its runtime of 22 minutes?

At the beginning of “An Odd Turn,” we meet Lucrecia, a young woman employed as a museum security guard. Although Lucrecia’s occupation may appear mundane to others, she finds immense fulfillment in her work. She seems to have an innate need to investigate each piece of art in the museum, which piqued her curiosity to a great degree. In addition, she possesses a talent that brings her great joy: the ability to see into the future. Lucrecia could sense future occurrences like robberies that supposedly come in a flash. The narrative follows her as she navigates the impact of her gift on her future decisions.

Filmmaker Francisco Lezama has taken a rather unconventional strategy by tackling a plethora of elements simultaneously. Among the most glaring aspects is the human race’s fight for survival throughout the inflationary period. By zeroing in on Argentina, viewers may see how the US dollar’s value has become a source of income or, should I say, a hobby among them. As soon as Lucrecia sees a premonition of a dollar bill increase in her vision, she starts her business as a dollar exchange representative, selling her USD assets. There are many swift instances between Lucrecia and her exploration of finding other individuals with the same mindset – for instance, the enormous lineup that awaits at the currency exchange offices to purchase the USD notes and her encounter with Diego, whom she finds along the way. In my opinion, the filmmaker deftly explores the Argentinians’ current economic crisis.

Lucrecia and Diego’s romance contributes to a separate yet important subject: the yearning for sexual liberation among young people. The filmmaker shows us how modern adults, using the “take it easy” approach, use social media to discover their ideal partner. The decision-making process of adults seeking an easy, no-strings-attached yet intimate relationship will be on display for viewers here. We could also sense that today’s youth remarkably accept every form of love, regardless of age or gender. Here, the filmmaker leads us on a journey through the ins and outs of homosexual and heterosexual connections, focusing on ways in which infatuations fuel rapid exploration and casual meet-ups.

However, some of those choices could end up being wrong. For example, there is a segment where Lucrecia forgets to maintain a professional relationship with her working colleague due to an inappropriate sexual conversation at work. This traps her in a legal issue, leading to her dismissal from work. Lucrecia might have taken a different step with Diego, where she seemed to want them to be more than simply friends with benefits. However, the feelings may not be mutual after all. Here, the struggle to keep up with the standards of a strong relationship becomes a valid issue.

Viewers can also indulge themselves with the elements of psychism while witnessing Lucrecia’s bizarre act of solving problems. Lucrecia’s ability to sense the future using a pendulum may divide the perception of viewers on the credibility of her talent. Although the film’s central concept of clairvoyance may seem strange to some, the filmmaker expertly demonstrates how it may serve as a source of strength and self-assurance for others. Lucrecia has been attempting to protect herself from future tribulations by employing the pendulum approach, which has been influential on occasion. This could leave viewers wondering if they should believe Lucrecia’s survival strategy or just write it off as a random chance. There is also a discussion on supernatural forces involving ghostly encounters, briefly highlighted in the film. Since taboo topics like this are popular among young people, the belief in apparitions becomes another topic of interest.

As the narrative progresses, several significant concerns are raised. Is Lucrecia’s prediction of the future based on reality or just her wildest dreams, fueled by her infatuation with art? Does Lucrecia have any ulterior motives in her relationship with Diego, which could be a strategic move for her business? How does the trust system between couples stay strong if it is not taken seriously? Does Lucrecia’s intense interest in sexual experiences stem from her feelings of loneliness and depression? Has Argentina reached an alarming point in terms of inflation and the unemployment rate?

At the Berlin Film Festival this year, “An Odd Turn” took home the Golden Bear for Best Short Film. Director Francisco Lezama presents the viewers with a short that weaves together numerous disparate elements into a harmonious package, which works wonders in the end. The perspective of currency exchange as an influencing factor towards the advancement of life, the complexity of personal relationships, and the power of psychism are some of the varied themes in the film. 

In the same manner that Lucrecia looks intuitively at the many facets of humans on her train ride, this film gives viewers the impression that everyone is mysterious in their own ways. Perhaps it’s a social commentary on the dollar exchange craze and the politics behind inflation. Alternatively, it can be perceived as the director’s approach to examine aspects of life that go beyond the ordinary. It is a true piece of brilliance in and of itself, but you can be sure that the movie will compel you to spend hours considering our own intended ending.

“An Odd Turn” (Un movimiento extrano) was screened at 2024 Berlinale

An Odd Turn (Un movimiento extrano, 2024) Movie Links: IMDb, Letterboxd

The Cast of An Odd Turn (2024) Movie: Laila Maltz, Sofia Palomino, and Jorge Prado