“27 Nights”, Daniel Hendler’s new film about a real case that explores the thin line between sanity and dementia

As the title indicates, the plastic artist spent 27 nights in the neuropsychiatric hospital. However, not everything ended with his departure. His daughters, who ordered his hospitalization in the first place, They asked that she be evaluated to determine if she was suffering from a mental illness and thus allow her re-entry. First, this story became a book and then Daniel Hendler, Mariano Llinás, Agustina Liendo and Martín Mauregui They were in charge of writing the script to transfer it to the big screen.

“27 Nights”: a sensitive and true portrait of freedom

In this fiction inspired by real events, Hendler not only directs, but also plays one of the protagonists: a judicial expert who must determine the mental state of Mrs. Hoffmanperformed by a mesmerizing and energetic Marilu Marini. The woman who is over 80 years old explains that the madness of which she is accused is the product of her daughters’ fantasy.

Almost as if suspended in time, she can only be visited by Hendler, who asks her monotonous questionnaires that Hoffman finds ridiculous. As the days go by, The expert begins to suspect that her daughters (Carla Peterson and Paula Grinszpan) are actually seeking to protect the family fortune with the hospitalization, since the mother found value elsewhere.: friendships with strangers, dancing at any time of the day and walks at night. In other words, freedom.

The film could have been a drama, but it chose the path of light comedy that seeks to bring a tear to the viewer not only with Hoffman’s story, but also with the birth of a friendship. The judicial expert learns to break his structured personality with this plastic artist who not only brings color to his life, but also asks him questions that challenge his questionnaires, such as: “What do you do to be alive?” Although to Martha Hoffman It’s hard to recognize it, too. He reasons thanks to Hendler’s character and understands that even in freedom it is necessary to negotiate.

A case that questioned mental health hospitalization

The film not only appeals to sensitivity, but also to reflection. Hendler portrays a real case that took place in 2004. The same took place prior to the mental health law, in force since 2010, which maintains that All involuntary hospitalization must be notified to a judge and be under judicial control, something that didn’t happen with Natalia Kohen.

Natalia Kohen

Natalia Kohen, the writer and plastic artist who was the protagonist of the real case.

The writer and plastic artist She was hospitalized at the request of doctor Facundo Maneswho today is a national deputy and candidate for national senator for “Para Adelante”. This event caused a media scandal and a judicial dispute in the center of a wealthy family in Buenos Aires. His diagnosis was questioned and his stay in a neuropsychiatric hospital closed his cycle with 27 nights. In 2022, Natalia Kohen died at the age of 103.

“27 Nights”: a hopeful film in the midst of the storm for national cinema

National cinema stars in a dark scenario, but Daniel Hendler’s new work appears like a light. Before its premiere, she became the person in charge of opening the doors of the Spanish festival. It not only symbolized an act of strength for the local industry, but also an opportunity to make the crisis visible that is experienced in the audiovisual sector.

27 Nights – San Sebastian

Santiago Mitre, Carla Peterson, Daniel Hendler and Agustina Llambi Campbell at the opening of San Sebastián.

“That an Argentine film opens this festival is a sign that rejoices us and “It shows how important Argentine cinema is to the world.”said at the opening of San Sebastián, the director Santiago Miter (“Argentina, 1985”), producer of “27 Nights”.

For his part, Hendler, the Uruguayan actor and director who was adopted by Argentina, He doesn’t stop filming. It has just been released “Quase Deserto” in Brazil, film in which he acts. On the other hand, in Spanish cinemas came “A Loose End”, his next feature film that screened at the Venice Film Festival and is awaiting its release date in national theaters. But now, with “27 Nights” the time has come for a real case that disputed mental health hospitalizations and exposed the prejudices of old age.

Technical Sheet

“27 Nights” (2025). Director: Daniel Hendler. Screenplay: Daniel Hendler, Martín Mauregui, Agustina Liendo, Mariano Llinás. Producers: Agustina Llambi Campbell, Santiago Mitre. Cast: Marilú Marini, Daniel Hendler, Humberto Tortonese, Julieta Zylberberg, Paula Grinszpan, Carla Peterson. Duration: 108 minutes.