All this talk of dolls reminds me of a Bunuel film I saw years ago, about a guy in a suburb of Buenos Aires, I think, and his desire for the life-like dolls dotted around his house, garden, and swimming pool. Can't remember any details now but I do recall liking the film a lot.
Jeremy | 15 Feb, 2007 - 2:47 am | #

I did some looking around, but can't see which Buñuel film that might be... You sure it was Buñuel?
Jon | Homepage | 17 Feb, 2007 - 10:39 am | #

As ever, my memory is playing tricks on me, multiplying the number of dolls/showroom dummies involved in a manner whose significance I'll leave others to contemplate. Anyway, the film in question is -The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz- and was set in Mexico, it seems. Useful plot summary/review can be found at http://www.slantmagazine.com/fil...view.asp? ID=150.
Jeremy | 19 Feb, 2007 - 2:35 am | #

there is some other famous latin american short story about sisters who each have their own life size dolls, and one who gets married and somehow uses her doll to escape a controlling husband ... any idea which I mean?
it was so damn creepy I'm blocking the author - but it's some famous woman. - on another note, recently saw an old NFB documentary called "where is Macondo". VPL carries it. worth seeing - bunch of interviews with survivors of the strike.
sara | 20 Feb, 2007 - 5:36 pm | #

Sara, I don't know, but could it be Rosario Ferré's "The Youngest Doll"?

Meanwhile, thanks for the Where is Macondo? suggestion.
Jon | Homepage | 20 Feb, 2007 - 9:57 pm | #

And Jeremy, thanks for the update. Unfortunately, my local video store doesn't seem to have the film.
Jon | Homepage | 20 Feb, 2007 - 10:00 pm | #