This is a film that tackles a lot of things. One is, of course, the love story between Lala and Ailín, which was in danger of taking a back seat when this huge event happens — that is always a danger in LGBT and/or women-led films by the way, but in here, it wonderfully does not. Another is race, class, privilege, and the justice system. The issues shown here about Argentina are not anomalies. While all of these and more could've been better-crafted, this film is still definitely a gem. I like Director Lucia Puenzo's choices to tell this specific story about these specific characters, when other directors could've chosen easier ways out. I can't wait to watch more from her.

It sounded interesting; almost like an Argentine version of "Heavenly Creatures" - but in the end "The Fish Child" fails to live up to the promise that it seems to have. The story revolves around the teenage daughter of an Argentine judge and his wife, who falls in love with the family's Paraguayan maid. The two plot to run off together to Paraguay, to live in a house by a lake, but things don't turn out as planned when the judge is killed. There's not a lot of mystery about his killing; there is a lot of intrigue about the past - particularly the maid's past - but somehow the movie seemed kind of choppy to me (perhaps the result of subtitles) so that it didn't really draw me in particularly well.The strongest part of the movie is probably the performance of Ines Efron as the judge's daughter. She was quite good and convincing in the role. Mariela Vitale was also quite good as the maid.That said, the movie still disappointed a bit. (4/10)

"The Fish Child" or "El Nino Pez" is Argentinean director Lucia Puenzo follow up to the critical hit "XXY". Puenzo once again casts Ines Efron to star in this story of a family in the rich upper class suburbs of Buenos Aries."The Fish Child" is more ambitious and sprawling in its story telling which also contributes too many of its faults. While "XXY" was a small character drama focused on the struggle of one persons search for identity "The Fish Child" reaches for a more broad almost soap opera like style. The story is told in a fractured non linear style making a first viewing somewhat of a challenge.It is a modern day love story between two young women Lala (Efron), the daughter of a judge and, Ailin the family maid. They plan to run away together to Paraguay and live in a house on the shores of Lake Ypoa. The problem is they have no money. Lala's father is about to retire and write a scathing memoir about the rampant corruption within the police force. But before he can do any of this he is murdered but by who? Lala and Ailin have their motives as do others.The story is told from Lala's point of view and mainly focuses on Ailin. She is accused and arrested for the murder and send to prison. The story flashes back and forth in time to give us a background on the characters, but when it comes to the third act the plot is just too bloated and over stuffed. We find out a bit more about Ailin's past and an anticlimactic resolution to who killed Lala's father. Needless to say they escape to Paraguay and live happily ever after or something like that. Obviously not the greatest movie but the acting of the two girls is pretty decent and will appeal to those who scour the foreign films section looking for something different.

excerpt, full review at my location - The writer/director of the synopsis- defying Argentine intersexuality melodrama XXY follows up her directorial debut with this adaptation of her own novel. With Inés Efron returning as another gay protagonist, Puenzo this time treads more traditional ground with her lesbian noir drama, but is the result Argentina's answer to the Wachowshi brothers' Bound or a case of a difficult second album depreciating the promise of the first?There's plenty of intrigue in this film for it to be of interest, and while it often fails to deliver on its promises, Lucía Puenzo is not on the list of Argentine directors you'd be wise to ignore. But given her impressive prior work, The Fish Child represents an overall disappointing work from an artist we've been given reason to expect more from.