Derecho de familia

Ariel Perelman is an attorney, like his father. And, because it is customary in Argentina to do so, the people refer to them both as Dr Perelman – regardless of whether they mean the father or the son. Yet it is not so much sharing the same name that bothers Perelman Junior as not knowing if he is beginning to look just like his father – or at least, the exact opposite. Perelman’s father is a gregarious chap. His ability to adapt makes him a little bit like Woody Allen’s character Zelig. The old man is nothing short of a chame­leon. With great ease he succeeds in adopting the language, behaviour and even idiosyncrasies of each and every one of his clients. And yet, he is not even particularly interested in them. Since his wife’s death his whole life revolves around court and his chambers, where his legal secretary Norita rules the roost. Perelman Junior, however, does not know any of his clients personally. And that’s the way he likes it. He doesn’t so much practice law as maintain a somewhat abstract relationship to jurisprudence. He did try at one time to work with his father. But it felt like being condemned to dance on stage alongside Fred Astaire. For this reason he decided to keep his distance from his father’s universe and founded a family of his own. But then, one day, everything changes. All of sudden, Perelman Senior wants to spend more time with his son. And, when the old man dies, Perelman Junior is obliged to come to some rather unpleasant conclusions.