A Few Feet Away review – Buenos Aires slacker tries to balance app life and real sex in vivid hookup drama

In “A Few Feet Away,” Tadeo Pestaña Caro’s debut feature, the vibrant cityscape of Buenos Aires serves as a backdrop for a searing critique of modern dating culture. The film follows 20-year-old Santiago as he navigates the treacherous waters of online hookups and real-life intimacy.

Caro’s portrayal of Santiago’s compulsive screen time is both fascinating and unsettling. Swiping through dating app profiles with an almost Pavlovian response, Santiago is bombarded with naked torsos and half-naked selfies. This stark reminder of how technology has transformed our understanding of attraction and intimacy highlights the shift away from chance encounters and awkward first dates.

Today, we can curate our own ideal partners with precision, rejecting anyone who doesn’t meet our exacting standards. Caro’s film is notable for its nuanced exploration of this virtual hookup culture, where Santiago’s struggles to balance his online life with real-life relationships serve as a powerful metaphor for the ways in which technology is redefining social norms.

Santiago’s interactions are stilted and awkward, as if he’s struggling to connect with others in a world where virtual connections have become the default. His night out with coworker Karen is a prime example of this struggle, as they awkwardly navigate the boundaries between friendship and romance.

This portrayal resonates deeply in an era where social media has become our primary means of communication. We’re more connected than ever before, yet somehow also more isolated. As Santiago lies awake in bed, staring at his phone, we see a young man trapped in a cycle of desire and disappointment.

Caro’s film suggests that our addiction to screens is not just a personal failing but a symptom of a broader societal issue. We’re no longer content to simply meet people; instead, we want to control every aspect of their appearance, personality, and behavior.

The consequences of this trend are far-reaching, from the rise of ghosting and online harassment to the erosion of trust in our personal relationships. Caro’s film is a powerful reminder that true connection requires vulnerability, empathy, and – above all – human interaction.

In “A Few Feet Away,” Caro offers a poignant exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century. As Santiago navigates the complexities of online hookups and real-life intimacy, we’re forced to confront our own complicity in this virtual hookup culture. Will we continue down this path, sacrificing meaningful connections for the fleeting highs of virtual intimacy? Or will we find a way to balance our love of technology with the need for human connection? The answer lies not in the screens we stare at but in the eyes of those around us.