The first Saturday of Spring (26th September) in Parque Centenario, Villa Crespo was welcomed by a day-long festival of music, arts and circus skills and culminating in an open air cinema screening, courtesy of arts collectives Comando Furgoneta and Cine Libre Parque Abierto.
The festival coincided with a gloriously sunny afternoon in Villa Crespo, attracting hundreds of locals into the park to relax, enjoy the weekend and catch up with friends and family. Visitors could also enjoy the extensive weekly feria that almost surrounds the park, which is markedly different to those of San Telmo and Recoleta; here, instead of being overwhelmed by tourist trinkets and tango memorabilia, you are confronted with an array of alternative, artisanal products, at far more reasonable prices.
The music and arts performance were provided by Comando Furgoneta, a collective which promotes a diverse range of different artistic ventures. This was fully apparent at the festival, as the audience was treated to acts such as jugglers, frenetic tribal drummers; and an experimental acoustic act which used such unheralded instruments as a tennis ball striking a hollow seat to create a wholly unique sound. It sounds bizarre, and it most definitely was; this type of musical innovation will never be to everybody’s taste. However for those (such as myself) who believed Buenos Aires began and ended with the chic clubs and boutiques of Palermo, this glimpse of hippy counter-culture was a welcome surprise.
Understandably as the night closed in and temperatures started to drop, the crowds began to thin, with those remaining now dependent on mate to keep spirits (and body temperatures) raised. The festival was hours behind schedule after technical difficulties earlier in the day, which in the summer would pose little problem but on a bitter September evening was testing even the hardiest of audience members. However, those who did remain were well attended to by those of Cine Libre Parque Abierto, with soothing hot chocolate and delicious vegetable risotto handed out for free as part of the collective’s Olla Popular (community kitchen) program.
The history of Cine Libre Parque Abierto is inextricably linked with the culture of protest and activism which filters through every facet of Porteño life. The group was formed, in their own words, “As a reaction against the confining behind bars and restriction of our public parks and spaces, specifically around Parque Centenario”. The groups screenings, held just outside the locked up confines of Parque Centenario at night, bring to public attention the injustice of caging the cities parks and open spaces, as well as the general lack of open space in many Porteño barrios.
This political consciousness is demonstrated at every film screening by several short, independent films about political injustice and current affairs. One particularly memorable film, created by film and photography collective Imagenes en Lucha, detailed the case of Luciano Arruga, a teenager from Greater Buenos Aires who was detained by police in January 2009 and never heard from again. The case gained nationwide attention when school friends of Luciano stormed onto the set of popular TV programme Caiga Quien Caiga, demanding answers from the Police and the Government as to the fate of their friend. The cinema thus provides an outlet for alternative media which would otherwise have little opportunity to get its message across, and this is undoubtedly a valuable public service.
Due to the delays earlier in the evening, the main feature film was not screened until almost midnight, as those who remained sprawled out on rugs and carpets and made themselves comfortable among the trees. One thing that must be said is this: if you’re expecting IMAX at Parque Centenario, you will be disappointed. The screening equipment consisted of a laptop, projector, a set of speakers and a canvas sheet. However the admittedly low-budget set up did all that was asked of it; picture and sound quality was decent, and the atmosphere and novelty of enjoying the cinema outside more than compensated for any technical deficiencies.
I would highly recommend Cine Libre Parque Abierto to any independent film fans looking for an alternative way to spend a spring evening, although from personal experience I would also advice this: it is definitely worth bringing along some hot drinks and a warm coat!
Cine Libre Parque Abierto holds film screenings most Saturdays in Parque Centenario, Villa Crespo/Almagro. For information on screenings and other activities, please visit http://cinelibreparqueabierto.wordpress.com/ Please note that most pictures are in Spanish with no subtitles. Comando Furgoneta holds festivals and concerts across Capital Federal. For more information visit http://comandofurgoneta.blogspot.com/