Leopoldo Torre Nilsson on AllMovie

Filmmaker Leopoldo Torre Nilsson's work from 1957 through 1962 has had a great impact on modern Argentine filmmakers. The son of director Leopoldo Torre Rios, he spent his childhood surrounded by classic Argentine cinema of the '30s. In the '40s, he began working on his father's films, and in the '50s went to Europe to study art cinema. His upbringing and studies set him apart from his peers. Concerned with the development and promotion of an Argentine national cinema, they criticized his films for being too bourgeoisie and European in style. But despite their criticism, Torre-Nilsson's work was focused on Argentine culture; much of it was adapted from his wife Beatriz Guido's writing (she was also a collaborator on his scripts). La Casa del Angel, his ninth film, was the first Argentine film to win international acclaim. After several successful films, Torre-Nilsson set up Producciones Angel, an independent production company for aspiring filmmakers of the Nueva Ola (Argentine New Wave movement). The new company also gave the director total artistic control over his films which continued to focus on the inner pain of the upper-middle class. His insistence on only presenting bourgeoisie stories lead to a revolt amongst young filmmakers who nonetheless remain influenced by his work.