An Artsy Argentinian Film "Hermia and Helena" Dir Matias Pineiro Puts a Shakespearean Spin on Love

"Hermia and Helena" is written & directed by Matias Pineiro (b Argentina 1982).  Here, Pineiro plays cagily with William Shakespeare's "Midsummer's Night Dream."  The clever screenplay & talented Argentinian & Int'l cast portray restless creatures whose roots do not permeate a single locale, nor does love run smoothly.  An Argentinian thespian, Camila (an enticing Augustine Munoz) is headed to NYC for an art fellowship.  Her friend Carmine returns from her year fellowship at the same NYC institute.  They exchange news & information of mutual friends & contacts made in the US.  And then it's adios to Camila's Latin lover and onto a romantic whirlwind with Lucas at the Institute.  The film seamlessly transitions from Buenos Aires to NYC by crossing bridge while hearing nostalgic ragtime piano by Scott Joplin.  Camila's intent was to translate "A Midsummer's Night Dream" to Spanish to stage in Buenos Aires.   Hence, the title Hermia and Helena, main characters from Shakespeare comedy of unrequited love.  "The course of true love never did run smooth." (WS)  The film cunningly plays with people attempting to pick up where they left off in relationships.  Camila is a contemporary Hermia.  Her love is torrid but fickle.  There are miscommunications, numerous rendezvous and resourceful tracking of past connections.   While some wish for things as they were, others look to the future.  The beautiful cinematography highlights the changing seasons in NYC. This is a clever film alight with life, art, literature, food and passion. "Hermia and Helena" is a contemporary twist on romance and the fleeting of time.   "A woman has to live her life or live to repent not having lived it..." (DH Lawrence)