Amalia Ulman's new film *Magic Farm* follows an American documentary crew that arrives in a rural Argentine town with a mandate to cover "crazy subcultures," only to find none. Led by a harried producer (Alex Wolff) and an anchor (Chloë Sevigny), the crew fabricates a zany trend while completely missing an environmental crisis affecting the village—no drinking water and widespread illness. Ulman describes the film as a critique of media bureaucracy, where content demands override actual news. The film continues her exploration of image-making and fiction, themes she previously investigated in her 2014 Instagram performance *Excellences & Perfections* and her 2021 debut feature *El Planeta*.
This article matters because it highlights Ulman's transition from the art world to filmmaking, a medium she finds more suited to her narrative-driven practice. Ulman, known for sharp social media critiques, has often felt misunderstood by the art world, where her multi-layered works were taken out of context. *Magic Farm* represents her ability to blur fact and fiction while addressing real-world issues like environmental neglect and media ethics. The film also underscores a broader trend of visual artists moving into cinema, where they can explore complex narratives without the constraints of gallery expectations.