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''Man Facing Southeast'' ((スペイン語:Hombre mirando al sudeste)) is a 1986 Argentine drama-science fiction film written and directed by Eliseo Subiela and starring Lorenzo Quinteros and Hugo Soto. The film was selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 60th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.〔Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences〕 The thematic and story of the 2001 American film ''K-PAX'' shares a strong resemblance with ''Man Facing Southeast'', and the former has been referenced or claimed as an uncredited remake of the latter.〔(Man Facing Southeast (Hombre Mirando al Sudeste) ) Moria: Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review at Wayback Machine〕 == Plot == The staff and patients go about their daily business at Buenos Aires' José Borda Psychiatric Hospital on a summer day in 1985. A staff psychiatrist, Dr. Julio Denis (Lorenzo Quinteros) is surprised to hear that his ward for non-violent delusional cases has one patient too many. Denis finds him in the chapel playing the organ like a virtuoso. Summoning him (Hugo Soto) to his office, Denis finds the man's speech is measured and articulate as he explains his presence there as a result of an image being projected from light years away. He introduces himself as "Rantés" (an exotic sounding name in Argentina). Dr. Denis is convinced that Rantés is a fugitive hoping to hide from the law in the hospital. He lets the patient stay however, after seeing how his caring touch helps the other patients. The doctor is amused by his extraterrestrial claims and he suspects that the man is a genius using his talents as a charade. Julio Denis is a highly professional, lonely man, whose recent divorce left him jaded towards life and work. Since his wife remarried, he settles for weekly outings with his two children and grainy home movies of happier times, which he views every night. Rantés, noticing the wounded Dr. Denis, is as interested in his troubles as the doctor is in Rantés, "the first patient in a long time" that has interested him at all. Believing his claim to be a "projected hologram" an allusion to Adolfo Bioy Casares' novel, ''Morel's Invention'', Dr. Denis concludes that this impressive genius is very well-read. The doctor soon uses his prerogatives to include Rantés in several outings, including a visit to a touring Moscow State Circus performance. Rantés is no ordinary man, though. Having a psychokinetic gift, he quickly finds ways to explore the city on his own and without permission. Compassionate to a fault, he uses this gift to the benefit of the hungry, narrowly skirting the law. He spends endless hours standing, motionless, facing southeast. His answers are always cryptic. He claims to do this to receive "transmissions from his planet" and that he is actually the doctor's own hallucination. After a few days Dr. Denis appears to be the only physician who still notices the polite, unproblematic patient. Rantés has earned the loyal following of the other patients and Dr. Denis' growing respect. The doctor is aware that Rantés has been leaving without permission and has avoided taking his medicine; but he is impressed and he takes Rantés' requests seriously, persuading the head of pathology, Dr. Prieto, to hire him as a volunteer assistant. Prieto (Rubens Correa) admits that Rantés would be his first assistant in some time (having lost his due to budget cuts). Surprising everyone, Rantés is visited by an attractive young lady. They clearly know each other and Dr. Denis hopes she can shed light on his mysterious patient's identity. Beatriz (Inés Vernengo) tells Denis of Rantés' work among children in a slum, where they met while working for an Evangelical mission; beyond that, she knows him as a "very good man" whom she is only casually acquainted with. Dr. Denis is charmed by the woman and invites both of them to an outdoor concert. During the concert Rantés asks Beatriz to dance. He becomes starstruck as the orchestra plays Beethoven's ''Ninth Symphony''. Rantés eventually persuades the conductor to let him take the baton for the symphony's iconic ''Ode to Joy'', which causes Rantés to be arrested. Confronted by an angry hospital director (David Edery), Dr. Denis is less concerned for his job than he is for his impetuous friend, whom the director orders closely monitored and strictly medicated. Dr. Denis fears this could kill Rantés' unique personality and intellect. The director is unsympathetic and states:
to which Denis quickly retorts (referring to the Malvinas/Falklands War):
Affected by the unwanted attention, Rantés broods and becomes rebellious. He seems tormented by Dr. Denis' lack of involvement, asking, "Doctor, why have you abandoned me?". He is also more upset by the mistreatment of other patients. After escaping again, he demands to see the director, but is turned away. His complaints are also rejected by the local newspaper. Dr. Denis believes that Rantés is disillusioned with mankind and may never recover, but continues the treatment. However, when Rantés starts acting like a catatonic person the director decides to give him Electroshock treatment without notyfing Denis. Rantés doesn't endure anesthesia and dies after a heart attack. The rest of the patients don't believe in Rantés death, as they all hope that he has only gone with his ship for some time. From then on the patients keep waiting for Rantés to return and take them away to his planet. At the same time, Denis quietly waits for Beatriz, who is away indefinitely, to return to him. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Man Facing Southeast」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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