“Today the world is fixed”, the film by the successful director of “The Robbery of the Century” and “Mom Went on a Journey”, starring Leonardo Sbaraglia, arrives on Netflix

Argentine cinema has a handful of directors who are synonymous with success. One of them is Ariel Winograd. His filmography has always responded well at the box office and his films are popular without that meaning less cinematic quality. There is an example that shows the weight of his work. Just before the pandemic will lead to the closing of cinemas in Argentina, the latest blockbuster was The Robbery of the Century (2020), directed by Ariel Winograd and starring Diego Peretti and Guillermo Francella. His commercial career stopped along with the rest of the activities. Almost two years later, the first great success of Argentine cinema with open theatres was Today Arrange the World, also directed by Ariel. Although the film was ready earlier, it was expected to find the best time for its mass release.

Today the world is settled now arrives on Netflix and it is a good opportunity to recommend streaming a movie genuinely designed for movie theaters. The story has a classic center of humor and emotion typical of Winograd's cinema. David “Griego” Samarás (Leonardo Sbaraglia) works as the general producer of a successful television show rightly called Today Is Arranged the World. In this program, two people with a conflict that seems irreconcilable sit down to debate until agreement is reached between parties. Greek seems like an expert on feelings, but in reality it is quite the opposite. A workaholic forever, he is single and loosely affectively connected to the world. He has a nine-year-old son, Benito (Benjamin Otero), whom he doesn't know in depth. Benito was born from an occasional relationship with Silvina (Natalia Oreiro) and Griego is not a present father. Even when she tells him she's going to live in Spain with the child, he doesn't seem particularly worried.

An unexpected event leaves the child in the care of Griego who, overnight, must take care of the little one he barely knows. At the same time, his program goes into crisis and his years-long success is at risk of being canceled. But that's not all: Silvina has told Griego that Benito is not her son, so she takes charge at the same time of looking for the real father. That quest, of course, contains all the humor and emotion of the plot. There will be no big surprises but there are some twists that keep the fun and interest always active. Winograd knows all the springs of classic cinema and uses them with skill.

The director of Hoy se Arrega el Mundo began his filmography in 2006 with Cara de queso, an unexpected success that was the kickoff of a successful career. It was followed by My First Wedding (2011), Wine to Steal (2013), No Children (2015), Allowed (2016), Mom Went on a Trip (2017) and The Robbery of the Century (2020). These titles succeeded in Argentina but also in other countries where they were released. But Winograd's arrival doesn't end there.

No children had two remakes, one in Mexico and one in Italy and Mama went on a trip had four more versions in Spain, Mexico, France and Italy. Few directors have managed to have such a clear connection with the spectators. To this filmography in Argentina we must add two feature films in Mexico, first Tod @s caen (2019) and then what is he like? (2020). Although, like all filmography, there are some films more successful than others, the sum shows a particularly solid craft.

His humor is genuine and never aggressive. There is no drop in line, there are simply links between people and an idea of comedy that respects the spectator's intelligence and has no victims to function. Same thing with emotion. In Today the World Is Arranged, the idea of bonds between real people appears without shame or cynicism. Argentine cinema has too many examples of snobbery and underestimation of those who pay to see a film, the opposite is true here. A film made for the spectators, not against them. One of the director's best, by the way. And Leonardo Sbaraglia in a light version is a better actor than in his serious mode. Surely in a few years an Italian or Mexican version will appear, but the original is this one and it is worth seeing.

KEEP READING