The Aura is an excellently executed piece of cinema, merging intriguing character work with a masterful plot. Directed by Fabi√�n Bielinsky and featuring Ricardo Dar√≠n, the film tells the story of Espinosa, an introverted taxidermist with a brilliantly analytical mind, who dreams of pulling off the perfect crime.

One day while hunting deer in an Argentinian forest, he finds his dream a reality when he becomes heir to a plot to rob a nearby casino. Espinosa is an epileptic, and just before an attack he feels a moment of stillness, where time seems to stop and sound fills his head that is described as an aura. As the film progresses, he must outwit both the police and his accomplices to pull off his master plan.

An excellently captivating watch, the film is complex and intelligently written. As the story unfolds, an air of tension is never lost, so much so that the audience is enthralled and the connection to the onscreen character is palpable.

The supporting characters are well acted, but seem almost unneeded. Dar‚àö‚â†n’s performs well as Espinosa, with his introverted and usually silent nature evident in every movement and facial expression. The ‘auras’ themselves are especially interesting. With everything seeming to freeze, quiet noises are suddenly amplified and Espinosa cannot move. These moments are paralleled in the dead animals that Espinosa initially works on as a taxidermist. Animal emotion is a strong key in the film, particularly in one wolf-like dog that seems to know and understand Espinosa’s every move. It is also very entertaining watching Espinosa bluffing his way into his accomplice’s confidence, using the plans he found in possession by the former plot-mastermind.

The Aura is a must-see’captivating, intriguing and above all entertaining.