Sidewalls had its start as a short film in 2006. The full-length version was released in 2011 and has only recently come to streaming services. The original title of this Argentinian movie is Medianeras. Directed by Gustavo Taretto, it’s a semi-comic exploration of urban alienation in the modern world.
Although Sidewalls got some attention at film festivals in Latin America, it’s one of those under the radar independent films that’s easy to overlook but that’s hopefully enjoying a new streaming audience.
The movie starts like a documentary, with a voiceover by Martin (Javier Droias) describing the architecture of Buenos Aires. He notes that the haphazard way dissimilar buildings are placed right next to each other reflects poor planning, which in turn reflects the poor planning of our lives. Much of this could apply to any modern city.
Martin is a web designer who is borderline agoraphobic, staying mostly in his small apartment. We then meet Mariana (Pilar López de Ayala), a young woman who lives in the same neighborhood. She is an architect who currently works designing storefronts. She keeps mannequins at home, which she sometimes interacts with.
The movie alternates between these two lonely characters as they wander around the city, have bad dates, and wonder why modern life seems so empty. Of course, the big question is whether these two will ever meet. There have been a few rom-coms using a similar device, Sleepless in Seattle probably the most famous. But Sidewalls is more than just a rom-com; it’s a look at urban anomie and how it makes meaningful relationships so hard to find.
The technology in Sidewalls is a bit dated, which reflects its 2006 origin. The characters all use flip phones, though they’re already addicted to texting.
The message, though, is as relevant as ever if not more so. People are obviously more dependent on their devices than ever. Martin is a bit ahead of his time, working at home and having all his meals delivered, practices not as common in the 2010 era.
The architecture theme is interesting as well, as building and streets certainly have an impact on how we feel and interact.
Sidewalls is the kind of quirky, unpredictable indie film I tend to enjoy. The characters don’t always behave rationally, but the whole point here is that modern life alienates people and breeds loneliness and neurosis. If there’s any message here, it’s simply that being immersed in electronic devices isn’t likely the path to human connection or happiness.
Sidewalls is currently streaming on AMC+ and other sites. As of this writing, it’s not on any free streaming platforms.