One of Argentina’s most promising young directors, Gonzalo Tobal, returns to Miami for a screening and discussion of his breakthrough debut, Villegas, which had its auspicious world premiere as a Special Presentation of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and later received its US premiere at 2013 Miami International Film Festival. In Villegas, Tobal presents the idea that becoming a grown-up is an ongoing process—one that can continue well into adulthood. This carefully observed road movie examines that particular moment in one’s early 30s where indulgences in adolescent hijinks may no longer be working in one’s best interests.

Cousins Esteban and Pipa who grew up together in the small rural town of Villegas in Northern Argentina, but adult life in Buenos Aires finds them drifting apart. They are brought back together, however, when their grandfather suddenly dies, prompting the pair to take a road trip back home. Their journey illuminates a fork in the road for the changing men: Esteban is maturing into a mellower, more responsible lifestyle, while the folksy Pipa is increasingly bewildered by his inability to gain traction with his own pursuits and hobbies.

In Villegas, as with many journeys of the heart, several emotional realities are soon seen in a new light, and inevitable shifts in direction will have to be met head-on. — Jaie Laplante