The Story of About Thirty
About Thirty is an Argentine comedy that centers on Arturo, a 30-year-old man whose talent for getting himself into trouble is matched only by his complete lack of self-awareness. The film doesn't follow a straightforward timeline — instead, it glides between March 2020 and the preceding decade, assembling a portrait of a guy who's somehow reached his thirties without learning much of anything. What makes the premise work isn't just the premise itself. It's the way the film uses that non-linear structure to show us how Arturo got here, moment by embarrassing moment, relationship by failed relationship.
The comedy emerges from watching someone who's genuinely trying, or at least thinks he is, consistently miss the mark. His indiscretions aren't villainous — they're just the kind of small, stupid, relatable mistakes that pile up over time. The film's willingness to jump around in time gives it room to find humor in both the immediate chaos of his decisions and the long-term pattern of them. You're laughing at Arturo, sure, but you're also laughing because you probably know someone like him. Hell, you might be someone like him.
Production, Awards, and the Making of About Thirty
About Thirty is a genuinely Argentine production, backed by a coalition of local film institutions and producers including Un Puma, INCAA (the National Film Institute of Argentina), Universidad del Cine, and several other production companies focused on supporting Spanish-language cinema. The film's 92-minute runtime keeps things brisk — no unnecessary padding, just the story it needs to tell and then out. That lean structure matters for a comedy; it means the pacing can stay tight, and the jokes land without overstaying their welcome.
The film earned recognition at festivals and award ceremonies, with 2 wins and 7 nominations across its awards run. While it didn't break into the major international ceremonies like the Oscars or BAFTAs, that's not unusual for a smaller Argentine comedy, and the nominations it did receive speak to its craft and appeal within the Spanish-language film community. On IMDb, it holds a 6.625 rating from 283 votes — solid ground for a regional comedy that found an audience. The production team clearly understood that a story about a guy failing his way through his twenties and into his thirties didn't need a massive budget or A-list names to work. What it needed was a script that understood the rhythms of disappointment and a willingness to let the humor come from character rather than spectacle.
What Makes About Thirty Stand Out
What's striking about About Thirty is that it doesn't try to redeem Arturo or teach him a lesson. The film exists in that messier, more honest space where people don't always change, where turning 30 doesn't automatically grant you wisdom, and where the best you can sometimes hope for is that you're aware of your own patterns — even if you're not sure what to do about them. That's not the usual comedy arc, and it's part of what makes the film feel fresher than it might on paper.
The performances ground everything. A comedy lives or dies on whether you believe the person making the mistakes, and whether you find their particular brand of failure funny rather than just annoying. The film manages that balance throughout — Arturo's a mess, but he's a mess you can root for, or at least root for to figure something out. The non-linear structure, which could've been a gimmick, actually serves the comedy by letting us see both the setup and the payoff of his disasters out of chronological order. You'll catch yourself laughing at something in the present-day scenes because you already know what led to it, or laughing at something in the flashbacks because you've seen where it's heading.
There's also something genuinely Argentine about the film's sensibility — the specific flavor of self-deprecation, the way relationships and family dynamics play out, the cultural context that makes certain kinds of failure funnier or sadder depending on your perspective. If you're familiar with Argentine cinema or culture, you'll catch layers here that might sail past someone watching it cold. That specificity is a strength, not a limitation, because it means the film isn't trying to be everything to everyone.
Where to Stream About Thirty Online
About Thirty is available on major OTT services, and Movie OTT tracks exactly where you can watch it right now. Streaming availability shifts frequently depending on your region and which services hold distribution rights at any given moment, so the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page will show you the current platforms carrying it. Movie OTT keeps that information updated across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major streaming services, so you won't waste time hunting for where it's actually available in your area. If you're in Argentina or have access to regional Spanish-language streaming platforms, there's a good chance it's available there as well.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is About Thirty based on a true story?
No, About Thirty is a fictional comedy written for the screen. While it captures real feelings and situations that many people experience in their twenties and thirties, it's not based on a specific person's life or memoir.
Q: Who directed About Thirty?
The film was directed by an Argentine filmmaker working within the country's strong independent film ecosystem, backed by institutions like INCAA and Universidad del Cine that support local storytelling.
Q: What's the runtime of About Thirty?
The film runs 92 minutes, keeping the comedy tight and paced without unnecessary length.
Q: Why does About Thirty jump between different time periods?
The non-linear structure allows the film to show how Arturo's patterns developed over a decade while also showing the present-day consequences. It's a storytelling choice that serves both the comedy and character development.
Q: Is About Thirty in English or Spanish?
About Thirty is an Argentine film made in Spanish, reflecting the country's vibrant Spanish-language cinema scene.
Final Thoughts on About Thirty
About Thirty isn't trying to be a life-changing comedy or a deep meditation on adulthood — though it touches on both. It's a funny, honest look at someone who's stuck in patterns he doesn't quite understand, told with enough style and specificity that it never feels like a generic story about growing up. If you like comedies that trust their characters and their audience, that don't feel the need to explain every joke or wrap everything up neatly, this one's worth your time. It's the kind of film that plays well if you're in the mood for something that's smart without being smug, funny without being mean.