After Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, and Salsa comes an Argentine film called Tango. Once again, we have the love story, the dancing, and the music that would make a great soundtrack. But there are some important differences between the previous films and this newcomer: less dialogue, more contemplation, and history told through the sensual movements of tango dancers.
Mario Suarez (Miguel Angel Sola) is a movie director whose latest project is retelling Argentine history through its national dance, the tango. He falls in love with the newest addition to the dance troupe, Elena Flores (Mia Maestro). Unfortunately, this delicate beauty is the girlfriend of Mafia boss Angelo Larroca (Juan Luis Galiardo) who is also the financier behind the project. As the situation between Mario, Elena, Angelo, and even Mario’s ex-lover Laura (Cecilia Fuentes) grows more complicated, the dancing intensifies and takes the place of dialogue.
While the rest of the movie leaves something to be desired, the dance scenes are spectacular. The movie guides us in A Chorus Line fashion from first rehearsals to finished full-scale production.
Mario’s musical develops along with Tango. It portrays his imagination, capturing his vision for the show with sensational choreography. Using only the most basic props — a screen and lighting effects — Mario is able to illustrate the violence of the military regime in Argentina, the hope of refugees for a better future, and the overall passion that bursts from the sensuous movements of the tango dancers.
The dance ultimately takes center stage, and the story line, at times a bit shallow, seems to be more of a sidekick. If dancing takes your breath away, this movie will leave you in awe, but otherwise Tango is likely to feel more like a two-hour slow dance with the high-school geek.
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