NYFF: The Headless Woman

An elusive, intriguing film by Lucrecia Martel that leaves the viewer nearly as disoriented as its amnesiac heroine Verónica (María Onetto). A wealthy Argentine dentist, Verónica loses her memory after getting into a mysterious car accident that may have killed a child.

Told in oddly framed shots that reveal as much as they obscure, The Headless Woman touches on themes of identity and class as Verónica tries to negotate a world she doesn't seem to understand any longer. Always on the verge of fragmenting completely, the film is held together by Onetto's fascinating performance. [posted by Jürgen] ***

More on The Headless Woman from Vadim Rizov, Nick Schager, and Daniel Kasman. Screening information.