What Is Sidewalls About?
The premise of Sidewalls in 288 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the restless streets of Buenos Aires, two strangers inhabit mirror‑image studios that share a thin dividing wall, each apartment a compact stage for solitary rituals. The city’s skyline, ever‑shifting, serves as a silent witness to lives that pulse behind closed doors, where the hum of screens and the glare of neon replace the warmth of conversation. The atmosphere is intimate yet distant, a blend of urban melancholy and quiet hope that lingers in the air of cafés, laundromats, and the narrow corridors that stitch the neighborhood together.
Mariana returns to the modest flat she once called home, carrying the echo of a recent breakup and the tentative dreams of an aspiring architect who still sketches possibilities on crumpled paper. Her world is a careful choreography of routine—arranging mannequins, scrolling through endless images, and listening to the faint music leaking from a neighbor’s piano—each act a way to keep loneliness at bay while she searches for a sense of place in a metropolis that feels both vast and confining.
Across the sidewall, Martin lives a parallel existence as a web designer whose evenings are spent chasing light through a camera lens, trying to capture the city’s texture while grappling with his own unease. He, too, leans on small acts of care—tending to a dog, rearranging furniture, scrolling through online spaces—to fill the gaps left by a life that feels too fragile to touch. Their shared wall becomes an unspoken conduit, a thin line that hints at connection without ever breaking the surface. The film lingers on the quiet resonance between these two lives, inviting viewers to contemplate how proximity can both conceal and suggest the possibility of intimacy in a world where everyone seems just a wall away.
What Happens in Sidewalls?
The complete story of Sidewalls, from the first scene to the last, in 637 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
In the sprawling urban tapestry of Buenos Aires, Martín and Mariana are strangers living in neighboring one-room “shoebox” apartments. Martín works as a web designer and takes up photography as a way to cope with his fear of the city, while [Mariana] is an aspiring architect who is forced to move back into her old place after a breakup. Their lives unfold in parallel, quiet and solitary, as they watch the city’s ever-changing skyline and wrestle with waves of anxiety, loneliness, and a growing sense that genuine human connection is increasingly mediated by screens.
A Short Autumn
The story starts with a string of alarming street accidents that prompt small acts of kindness from both of them. A prostitute’s dog leaps from a balcony, sending a passerby into danger—yet Martín and Mariana pause to help in their own ways. Martín faces a medical diagnosis of a harmless discarthrosis and finds solace in caring for his ex-girlfriend’s dog, whom he has kept after she moves to the United States. Mariana, working as a window dresser, finds herself talking to the store mannequins she assembles at home. In a quiet moment, she reopens an old Where’s Wally? book and discovers a page she has never managed to solve, a small symbol of the mysteries she carries. She also reflects on the end of her four-year relationship, choosing to ignore a call from her ex as she contemplates what comes next in her life.
A Long Winter
As winter settles in, Martín and Mariana drift through the city without quite meeting. Martín spends much of his life online, ordering a new desk chair and hiring a dogwalker named Ana, whom he begins to date, only to discover that Ana is already involved with someone else and eventually ghosts him. Mariana agrees to a date with a client, Lucas, at a restaurant perched at the top of a tall skyscraper. Her phobia of elevators leads her to take the stairs, much to Lucas’s dismay; while he waits at their table, she is suddenly overcome by anxiety and leaves. Later, she finds Martín’s old office chair on the curb and brings it home, then deletes all her pictures of her ex from her laptop. The story of the Kavanagh Building—soaring, iconic, and symbolic—drifts into her thoughts, and she is drawn to the music from a neighbor’s piano. Martín experiments with online dating and meets Marcela, a manic polyglot, but the date ends in disappointment. He also begins swimming at Mariana’s local pool, where he meets Rafa. They go on a date, and Mariana responds with kindness when Rafa experiences erectile dysfunction, but he ends up ghosting her.
Spring at Last
With spring, a sense of fragile renewal arrives. Mariana contemplates the city’s unremarkable exterior “sidewalls” and, seeking change, undergoes a lip piercing. Both of them install new windows in their apartments, and they unknowingly look out at one another while a radio plays the poignant song “True Love Will Find You in the End,” a moment that moves them to tears as they watch a rerun of Manhattan on television. One evening, they connect in an Internet chat room by chance; just as Mariana asks for Martín’s phone number, a citywide blackout plunges the streets into darkness. They each buy candles at the same shop, share a stray moment of connection in the dim light, and part ways. Later, Mariana spots Martín walking his dog in a red-and-white striped sweater reminiscent of Where’s Wally, a small, playful sign that their paths might finally cross. She pushes past her elevator fear and rushes outdoors, where they finally meet in person. As the closing credits roll, a YouTube video shows the couple lip-syncing to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” hinting at a future they now share—together, in a city that finally feels within reach.
Sidewalls Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Street accidents set the tone” to “The final meeting and closing moments”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Street accidents set the tone
During a string of street accidents in Buenos Aires, Martín and Mariana witness chaos unfold. A prostitute's dog leaps from a balcony, sending a passerby into a taxi and another to suffer a heart attack. The events highlight the vulnerability of strangers navigating a crowded urban maze.
When:Autumn Where:Buenos Aires streets
- 2
Martín receives a medical diagnosis
Martín visits a doctor and is diagnosed with a harmless case of discarthrosis. The diagnosis adds a personal hurdle as he tries to cope with the city’s pressures. It foreshadows his growing fear of the urban environment.
When:Autumn Where:Doctor's office
- 3
Martín adopts his ex-girlfriend's dog
After his ex moves to the United States, Martín adopts her dog and brings it into his life as an emotional anchor. The companion accompanies him through the daily rhythms of city life. The dog becomes a small source of responsibility amid his loneliness.
When:Autumn Where:Martín's apartment
- 4
Mariana returns to her old apartment
Mariana moves back into her old one-room apartment after the breakup, confronting memories and reconsidering her path. She watches the city from a small window and contemplates her future in architecture. The return marks a shift from isolation to renewed urban perception.
When:Autumn Where:Mariana's old apartment
- 5
Where's Wally page and familiar objects
Mariana re-discovers a favorite Where's Wally? book, finding a page she has never solved. This moment echoes her longing to uncover hidden patterns in the city and in her life. The object sits alongside her crafted mannequin displays, tying into her artistic sensibilities.
When:Autumn Where:Mariana's home
- 6
Mariana ignores her ex's call
Mariana lets an incoming call from her ex-boyfriend go unanswered, signaling a shift toward independence. She reflects on their four-year relationship and what it means to start anew. The moment emphasizes a quiet reclamation of her personal space in a digital age.
When:Autumn Where:Mariana's apartment
- 7
Crossing paths without meeting
Martín and Mariana frequently pass each other on the city streets without actually meeting. The near-connection contrasts with their online and offline pursuits. It underscores the tension between living in close proximity and remaining emotionally distant.
When:Winter Where:Buenos Aires streets
- 8
Mariana's date with Lucas and the stairs
Mariana agrees to a date with Lucas at a restaurant atop a skyscraper. She reveals a fear of elevators and chooses the stairs, delaying their moment together. Lucas waits, and her anxiety ultimately leads her to leave.
When:Winter Where:Restaurant at the top of a skyscraper
- 9
Chair on the curb and deleting the past
Mariana discovers Martín's old office chair discarded on the curb and brings it home, a tangible reminder of the past. She also deletes all pictures of her ex from her laptop, signaling a deliberate purge. These small acts mark a turning point in her emotional journey.
When:Winter Where:Curbside street
- 10
The Kavanagh Building and piano lure
Mariana recounts the legend of the Kavanagh Building, a symbol of architectural ambition in Buenos Aires. The tale draws her toward the neighbor’s music on the piano, awakening a sense of belonging. The building becomes a focal point for her evolving identity.
When:Winter Where:Kavanagh Building
Show the other 4 events of Sidewalls Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Martín tries online dating
Martín ventures into online dating and meets Marcela, a manic polyglot who unsettles his expectations. The encounter reveals his continuing search for connection in a mediated world. Meanwhile, he also begins swimming at Mariana's local pool, hinting at their still-intertwined lives.
When:Winter Where:Martín's apartment
- 12
Mariana and Rafa at the pool
Mariana meets Rafa at the local pool and they go on a date. Rafa experiences erectile dysfunction, which complicates their budding connection and leads to him ghosting her. The swimming scenes foreground vulnerability and the fragile trajectory of new romance.
When:Winter Where:Mariana's local pool
- 13
Spring arrivals: windows and a piercing
Spring brings small changes: Mariana gets a lip piercing and both Martín and Mariana have new windows installed in their apartments. The fresh light prompts a broader emotional awareness, and they’re moved by a radio broadcast of True Love Will Find You in the End and the televised ending of Manhattan. The city’s changing façades mirror their evolving desires.
When:Spring Where:Their respective apartments
- 14
The final meeting and closing moments
Some time later, Mariana spots Martín walking his dog and overcomes her fear of elevators to rush outside. They finally meet on the street and begin a real connection, foreshadowed by the closing YouTube video where they lip-sync Ain't No Mountain High Enough. The film closes on a note of shared happiness amid urban change.
When:Spring Where:City street outside their apartments
Who Are the Main Characters in Sidewalls?
4 characters, among them Ella (Mariana Anghileri), Él (Javier Drolas) and Voz Ex-Novio (Carlos Santamaría): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Ella (Mariana Anghileri)
Played by Mariana Anghileri
Mariana, an aspiring architect navigating post-breakup life, uses her home and surroundings to cope with anxiety and loneliness in a city that never seems to slow down. Her perspective on space, light, and daily routines reveals resilience and a longing for meaningful connection. Through her experiences with living in a neighboring apartment, she confronts fear, memory, and the possibility of a new relationship.
- 🧭 Architect
- 🫂 Lonely
- 💡 Reflective
- É(
Él (Javier Drolas)
Played by Javier Drolas
Martín, a web designer who takes up photography to cope with his fear of the city, embodies quiet introspection and a cautionary approach to romance. He navigates online dating and real-life meetings, often misreading cues while seeking genuine connection. His arc traces how urban life fuels both creativity and anxiety.
- 🎨 Creative
- 🗺️ Urban anxiety
- 🧠 Introspective
- VE
Voz Ex-Novio (Carlos Santamaría)
Played by Carlos Santamaría
Mariana's ex-boyfriend, who moved to the United States, represents past attachments that linger even as relationships drift apart. His absence and the memory of their time together influence Mariana's feelings and choices. The character functions as a reminder of what is left behind when paths diverge.
- 💔 Heartbroken
- ✈️ Distant
- 🕰️ Memory-driven
- LO
La otra (Valentina Liernud)
Played by Valentina Liernud
A secondary, enigmatic figure in the ensemble, whose presence emphasizes the film's themes of indirect connection and urban visibility. While not a central focus, this character contributes to the sense that many people inhabit the city’s sidewalls, sharing in the emotional atmosphere of the story.
- 🪟 Enigmatic
- 🧩 Supporting
- 🏙️ City-life
Where and When Is Sidewalls Set?
Sidewalls is set in Buenos Aires and Argentina (Present-day (early 21st century)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present-day (early 21st century)
The narrative unfolds in contemporary Buenos Aires, where online dating, constant connectivity, and urban routines shape personal relationships. The story moves through seasonal episodes—Autumn, Winter, and Spring—that reflect changes in mood and circumstance rather than distinct historical eras. The emphasis is on present-day life in a city that never fully sleeps.
Where
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sidewalls unfolds across the dense urban fabric of Buenos Aires, with a focus on neighboring apartment buildings and tight living spaces that emphasize isolation in a crowded city. The film situates its characters within a modern metropolis known for architectural landmarks and busy street life. The setting anchors themes of distance, anonymity, and the pursuit of connection amid urban rhythms.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🗺️ Cityscape
- 🏢 Apartment life
What Are the Themes of Sidewalls?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Urban Loneliness, Relationships & Breakups and Windows & Viewpoints.
-
01
Urban Loneliness
The city’s vastness and density paradoxically intensify personal isolation. Martín and Mariana live side-by-side in the same city yet move through parallel, emotionally disconnected lives. Moments of shared attention—the chance encounters, the blackout—suggest that human connection can emerge from chance within a crowded urban landscape.
-
02
Relationships & Breakups
The film tracks the fragility of romance—from past relationships to new attempts at dating—to reveal how digital culture and moving on can complicate genuine intimacy. Characters grapple with longing, miscommunication, and the fear of vulnerability. Recovery and closeness arise slowly, through persistence and mutual recognition.
-
03
Windows & Viewpoints
Windows symbolize borders between private interior life and shared public space. The installation of new windows and the glimpses across the street illuminate how small changes can trigger emotional shifts and the potential for contact. The film uses perspective—looking out and looking in—to explore connection amid urban sidewalls.
What Kind of Film Is Sidewalls?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A quietly melancholic and tender romance film that explores urban loneliness and the serendipitous connection between two anxious individuals living parallel lives in a sprawling city.
- lonely
- quiet
- anxious
- tender
- hopeful
- reflective
- urban loneliness
- serendipity
- fear of the city
- internet dating
Quiz
How well do you remember Sidewalls? Test yourself on the story.
