Marilú Marini
Martha Hoffman
Overview
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Woman Who Wouldn’t Be Managed
I keep thinking about the way Marilú Marini moves through 27 Nights—not just what she does, but how she occupies space. There’s a moment early on, in Martha Hoffman’s sunlit Buenos Aires apartment, where she’s perched on the edge of a velvet sofa, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling from her fingers like an afterthought. The camera lingers on her hands: veined, ringed, restless.
She’s telling a story about a long-ago lover, her voice a mix of amusement and something sharper, something that doesn’t quite trust the listener. And then, without warning, she laughs—a full-throated, unapologetic sound that seems to startle even her. It’s the kind of laugh that doesn’t ask permission.
That’s the film in a nutshell: a story about a woman who refuses to be contained, even when the world tries to label her.
Daniel Hendler’s 27 Nights is, on its surface, a dramedy about aging, autonomy, and the bureaucracies that police both. Martha Hoffman, a wealthy, eccentric widow, is forcibly committed to a psychiatric clinic by her daughters, who claim she’s squandering her inheritance and endangering herself. A court-appointed expert, Leandro Casares (played by Hendler himself), is sent to evaluate her mental state.
The film’s premise is ripped from the headlines—inspired by the real-life case of Natalia Kohen, an Argentine artist whose daughters had her institutionalized in 2005, sparking a national debate about elder autonomy and the misuse of psychiatric power. But 27 Nights isn’t interested in being a polemic. It’s a character study, first and foremost, and its sharpest observations are about the quiet violence of being told how to live.
Hendler, best known as an actor in films like Lost Embrace and The Bottom of the Sea, makes his second foray into directing with this Netflix original, and it’s clear he’s more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. His performance as Leandro is serviceable, but it’s Marini who steals the show. At 80, she brings a lifetime of stage and screen presence to Martha, a woman who is equal parts flamboyant and fragile.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A quirky drama with heartfelt moments but struggles to balance its tone and narrative depth."
Marilú Marini’s performance as a free-spirited woman confined to a psychiatric clinic resonates with many, drawing praise for its emotional authenticity. However, the film’s uneven pacing and underdeveloped supporting characters leave some viewers wanting more cohesion and clarity in its exploration of mental health and personal freedom.
What viewers praise
- Marilú Marini’s standout performance Her portrayal of a carefree woman is both charming and poignant, anchoring the film’s emotional core.
- Thought-provoking premise The exploration of societal perceptions of mental health and personal autonomy sparks meaningful discussion.
- Unique tone The blend of drama and subtle comedy adds a distinctive flavor to the storytelling.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing The narrative drags in places, making it difficult to stay fully engaged throughout.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including the daughters and clinic staff, lack depth and feel secondary to the plot.
- Ambiguous resolution The ending leaves some viewers unsatisfied, as it doesn’t fully resolve the central conflict.
Recommended for
Fans of character-driven dramas Marilú Marini admirers Argentine cinema enthusiasts Films exploring mental health themes
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsSan Sebastian opened on a Netflix internment case, not a prestige biopic
On 19 September 2025 the 73rd San Sebastian Film Festival opened with Daniel Hendler's 27 Nights. The gala was the world premiere, and the film sat in official competition. Hendler directed, co-wrote, and plays the court expert. Marilu Marini plays Martha Hoffman, the patron her daughters lock in a clinic. Screen Daily flagged it as Hendler's second title at the festival that year, beside A Loose End in Horizontes Latinos. 
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9PEcUpiW6A
Variety described Hoffman as an 88-year-old millionaire interned against her will. Netflix's trailer copy puts her at 83 and names the investigator Casares. The plot is not a puzzle about whether a ward exists. Casares has to decide if the daughters are protecting her or reaching for the fortune, and if Hoffman is ill or simply done being managed. Hendler already had a Berlin best-actor prize for Daniel Burman's The Lost Embrace. Here he writes the report from inside the frame. [1], [5]
The source novel is Natalia Zito's 27 noches, drawn from the Natalia Kohen case. Variety says that case and others like it pushed Argentina toward a ban on involuntary admission to psychiatric institutions. The film does not restage Kohen as a documentary double. It names the woman Martha Hoffman. Carla Peterson and Paula Grinszpan play the daughters. Humberto Tortonese and Julieta Zylberberg fill out the house. Infobae timed Argentine theaters for 9 October and the Netflix worldwide drop for 17 October, after the Donostia bow. [1], , [5]
What the trades actually gossiped about in San Sebastian was the money. 27 Nights is a 100 percent Netflix original from La Union de los Rios, the shingle Santiago Mitre and Agustina Llambi-Campbell run. It is their first film with the streamer. Mitre, whose Argentina, 1985 was Oscar-nominated, told Variety the government had ignored the national film law. "Our film, for example, is a 100% original Netflix production, and they gave us a great deal of creative freedom to make the film we wanted," he said. He added, "That's what happens when you have an uncultured president." Llambi-Campbell said that in nearly two years the administration had not funded a single Argentine film through public money. "Not one. Zero." [1]
They shot in Buenos Aires in January and February 2025. Llambi-Campbell said that a year earlier the script was still being stitched. The writers listed with Hendler are Martin Mauregui and Agustina Liendo. Mitre called the finished picture "delicate, quietly joyful and filled with emotional detail," then tied an old woman who wants to be happy to Wednesday protests by pensioners. That is his framing in the trades, not a leaked set fight. [1], [3]
The official trailer went up on 3 October. Opening night is a slot, not a trophy. The Golden Shell that year went to Alauda Ruiz de Azua's Sundays. Hendler's other 2025 title picked up a Horizontes special mention. US Netflix still carries the internment comedy under the English title 27 Nights. [2], , [5]
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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