Functional Diversity as Social Parable: El hijo de la novia (2001) and Anita (2009)

Abstract

Functional diversity in Argentine cinema often functions as a symbolic instrument to affirm normality of majority society. However alterity of functional diversity can also serve as a touchstone to unmask a society in disintegration and affirm this way the wisdom of the marginalized. Two Argentine movies of the 21th century show the potential and the limits of the symbolism of functional diversity in a social parable: the commercially successful El hijo de la novia (2001; director: Juan José Campanella) and Anita (2009; director: Marcos Carnevale).