Natalia Oreiro Defends Artistic Freedom,Diversity in Argentine Cinema Amidst Political Debate
Buenos Aires – Argentine actress Natalia Oreiro has spoken out in defense of artistic expression and the importance of diverse cinematic offerings,stating she doesn’t believe a film’s success should be measured solely by audience numbers. Her comments come amidst a growing debate within Argentina‘s film industry regarding the role of politics and ideology in artistic creation and consumption.Oreiro, known for both mainstream and independent roles including her 1998 breakout film An Argentine in New York and more recent work with director Benjamín Ávila (Clandestine childhood), emphasized the need for co-existence between commercially triumphant and auteur cinema. “I think you have to make cinema of all kinds of gender,” she stated, adding, “our cinema is our story.” The actress’s remarks represent a call for inclusivity and a rejection of prescriptive approaches to filmmaking and audience engagement.
Oreiro addressed the recent controversy surrounding actor guillermo Francella’s film Homo Argentum, acknowledging her affection for Francella, with whom she shared her first film experience. She cautioned against “reducing an artistic fact to a political current,” advocating rather for a diversity of projects and opinions.
“I believe that reducing an artistic fact to a political current is very simple,” Oreiro said. “I advocate for the diversity of projects, of opinions. I think they can live together.” She further argued against dictating how audiences should interpret films, stating, “Tell a person, how a movie has to do, how he has to think to see certain cinema, it seems to me that it is underestimating the public.”
Oreiro’s statements reflect a broader concern about the current climate in Argentina, acknowledging a “difficult time” both within the film industry and the country as a whole. She concluded by stressing the power of cinema to connect people and the importance of creating work that resonates with audiences on an emotional level.