EMPTY NEST is the name of the syndrome faced by parents when children leave the house.  But in the film, it also refers to the state of affairs of husband and wife, Leonardo (Oscar Martinez) and Martha (Cecilia Roth) when the passion has gone out of their lives.  The film begins stylistically at a dinner party attended by two when the husband’s roaming eyes indicate how the rest of the movie will go. 

But this is no moody, boring family drama.  Director Daniel Burman has crafted a realistic tale of a grumpy old man trying to come to terms with his work and his frustrated wife.  The image of the two floating on water moving closer or apart, depending on how one wishes to look at their relationship sums it all up.  Though the film sympathizes with the husband, it mainly takes the wife’s stand.

EMPTY NEST, enhanced by music, two impromptu song and dance numbers, humor and human performances particularly by Martinez, is a welcome break in the family drama genre.