Valentin (I) (2002)
"Valentín" (original title)

An 8-year-old boy, raised by his grandmother, is surrounded by problems in his family he finds only himself capable of solving.

Director:

Alejandro Agresti

Writer:

Alejandro Agresti

Stars:

Rodrigo Noya, Carmen Maura, Julieta Cardinali

14 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rodrigo Noya	...	Valentín
Carmen Maura	...	Abuela
Julieta Cardinali	...	Leticia
Jean Pierre Noher	...	El tío Chiche
Mex Urtizberea	...	Rufo
Lorenzo Quinteros	...	Hombre del bar
Alejandro Agresti	...	El padre
Carlos Roffé	...	Dr. Galaburri
Marina Glezer	...	La maestra
Stéfano Di Gregorio	...	Roberto
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fabián Vena	...	El cura

Storyline

In 1967 Buenos Aires, eight year old Valentín lives alone with his poor widowed paternal grandmother. He has not seen his mother since he was three. His grandmother tells him that his mother was unfaithful to his father. Regardless, Valentín still misses her. His womanizing father, Vincente, is on the most part absent as a traveling salesman, he who seems more concerned about his own fortunes than sending money home to take care of his mother and son. Valentín has dreams like most young boys, his primary one being to become an astronaut. He believes the work that he does building rocket models and space suits will assist the NASA space program, and he does whatever he can, such as walk around in heavy shoes to simulate zero gravity and hold his breath underwater, in his pursuit of becoming an astronaut, despite being slightly cross-eyed and near-sighted, which he believes will not hinder his chances. But without really realizing it, he wants more than anything to be part of a nuclear ...

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Plot Keywords:

astronaut | 1960s | pianist | friend | rocket | 

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Taglines:

Cupid just turned eight.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax Films [us] Official site [ar] (Spanish)

Country:

Argentina Netherlands France Spain Italy

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

6 February 2003 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Valentin

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$14,048 (USA) (7 May 2004)

Gross:

$275,363 (USA) (20 August 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Floor Features, De Productie, RWA

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min 79 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Inspired by one of director Alejandro Agresti's childhood memories, when he spent a day with one of his father's girlfriends, going to the cinema and to the park.

User Reviews

wonderful film & ms carmen maura's performance transcendent

firstly, this is a film rather than a movie; therefore, it appears that the objective is more to offer a discrete perspective to the viewer -- if one is interested in plots twists, car chases or other movie ' magic', it is perhaps advisable to look elsewhere

however, if one wishes to experiences what has to be universally fine acting -- especially by the always pitch-perfect ms carmen maura in a performance which may be surely described as Oscar-worthy -- a compelling study in inter- /intra-personal relationships and an opportunity to see the world differently after viewing : decease looking & enjoy what has become one of my favorite films

lacking experience or credentials in film criticism, i refrain from attempting to offer pretentious pseudo-critique; that being stated, just one of the aspects of the film i appreciated was a presentation of the heretofore little known personally topic of Argentinian jewry

further, this film elicited empathy for ostensibly unsympathetic characters reminding one that ' walking a mile in the shoes ' of others is still perhaps the best way to understand them