The Argentina produced, Pablo Solarz directed film, The Last Suit (El Ultimo Traje), opens theatrically Friday, September 21 in New York City with a Los Angeles opening to follow on September 28. This quiet little film about the quest of an elderly Jewish man has received many accolades and awards on the festival circuit. After seeing it myself, I can tell you, every word of praise is much deserved.
The story is about a Holocaust survivor who, facing the twilight of his life and the rapid decline of his place in the world, decides to undertake a trip from Argentina to Poland. The journey is devised against his family's wishes who perceive him as a frail man with health issues. But Abraham (Miguel Ángel Solá) is set on tying up some unfinished business from his younger days in Poland.
The 88 year-old tailor basically has to run-away from his home in Buenos Aires, where his kids have sold his house in order to set him up in a retirement home. But he has other plans. Without hesitation or unnecessary fanfare he buys a one way ticket to Poland order to keep a promise to a friend who saved him from certain death at the end of World War II. This is a charming, funny and notably poignant film by second time helmer, Solarz (Together Forever). Much to his credit, Solarz executes this tale in a very toned down, straight forward manner that respects its subject matter as much as the dignity of the elderly.
Abraham survived the Holocaust, made a successful life in a foreign land, and isn’t about to quietly fade away for the convenience of his off spring. With its klezmer (traditional eastern European Jewish music) score, evocative cinematography and fleet pacing, The Last Suit approaches its weighty themes with a light touch that illuminates a serious story. And in its mix of Spanish, Yiddish, German and Polish it is a globe-trotting, late-in-life road movie with planes, trains and heart.
Festivals and Awards include Audience Awards at the 2018 Miami Film Festival, the 2018 Punta del Este Film Festival, the 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and the 2018 Seattle International Film Festival where the film was also honored with the Best Actor Award. At the 2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival the film received the Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema. And the 2018 Best Film Awards include the Philadelphia Jewish, Washington Jewish, San Francisco Jewish, and the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festivals. That's a lot of honors for a humble film from South America.