Valentin (2002/I) Valentín (original title)

Director:

Alejandro Agresti

Writer:

Alejandro Agresti

Release Date:

15 January 2003 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Cupid just turned eight.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Rocket | 1960s | Abusive Father | Friend

Awards:

14 wins & 8 nominations

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
Juan Cruz Bordeu	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Alejandro Agresti

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alejandro Agresti

Produced by
Julio Fernández	....	producer
Thierry Forte	....	producer
Laurens Geels	....	producer
René Goossens	....	co-producer
Annemiek van Gorp	....	co-producer
Eddy de Kroes	....	executive producer
Dick Maas	....	executive producer
Massimo Vigliar	....	producer
Pablo Wisznia	....	producer (as Pablo Esteban Wisznia)

Original Music by
Luis Salinas
Paul M. van Brugge		(as Paul M. van Bruggen)

Cinematography by
Jose Luis Cajaraville

Film Editing by
Alejandro Brodersohn

Production Design by
Floris Vos

Costume Design by
Marisa Urruti

Production Management
Verónica Cura	....	production manager
Pedro D'Angelo	....	production manager
Hans van Helden	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martín Carranza	....	second assistant director
Federico D'Auria	....	second assistant director
Natalia Smirnoff	....	assistant director

Art Department
Natalia Grosso	....	assistant art director
Maria Eugenia Sueiro	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Guy Amitai	....	sound editor
Normann Büttner	....	foley mixer
Mathieu Cox	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eckhart Goebel	....	foley editor (as Eckart Goebel)
Mel Kutbay	....	foley artist
Alexis Oscari	....	sound assistant
Luuk Poels	....	sound effects editor
Eduardo Prus	....	sound editor
Fernando Soldevila	....	sound recordist
Victor Alejandro Tendler	....	boom operator (as Victor Tendler)
Carl Van Brande	....	sound supervisor

Visual Effects by
Floris van der Veen	....	online editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Aguilera	....	electrician
Adrian Arce	....	electrician (as Adrián Arce)
Ramón Basini	....	electrician (as Ramon Bassini)
Mariano Levy	....	gaffer
Sebastián Martínez Piñeiro	....	gaffer (as Sebastián Martinez)
Rodolfo Resch Rambo	....	electrician (as Rodolfo Ressch)
Mauricio Rubinstein	....	gaffer
Jorge Torres	....	grip

Casting Department
Pablo Pérez Giménez	....	extras casting (as Pablo Perez Jiménez)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martina Gusman	....	costume assistant
Martina Gusman	....	production assistant: costume department

Editorial Department
Niels Koopman	....	first assistant editor
Jonne Rietra	....	post-production assistant
Petro van Leeuwen	....	color timer

Other crew
Cecilia Atán	....	continuity (as Cecilia Atan)
Pablo Fendrik	....	personal assistant to director
Mauro Groisman	....	production assistant
Alejandro Lanezan	....	production assistant
Juan Pablo Miller	....	production assistant
Natalia Núñez	....	production assistant
Gabriel Pastore	....	location manager
Sergio Pra	....	location scout
Martin Samper	....	making-of crew coordinator
Silvana Savastano	....	continuity
Elena Serra	....	development executive
Leticia Tapia	....	production assistant
Diego Yaker	....	location scout

Production Companies

• First Floor Features (co-production)
• De Productie (co-production)
• RWA (co-production)
• Patagonik Film Group (co-production)
• DMVB Films (co-production)
• Duque Films (co-production)
• Castelao Producciones (co-production)
• Surf Film (co-production)
• Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales (INCAA) (with the support of)
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film (with the support of)
• Rotterdams Fonds voor de Film en Audiovisuele Media (with the support of)

Distributors

• ABC Distribution (2003) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Central Partnership (Russia)
• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
• Miramax Films (2004) (Latin America) (subtitled)
• Miramax Films (2004) (North America) (subtitled)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2005) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Valentín" - Argentina (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language

Runtime:

86 min | Canada:79 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Argentina | Netherlands | France | Spain | Italy

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:G | Finland:S | Argentina:Atp | Belgium:KT | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Spain:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

First Floor Features

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.

A valentine to childhood

Hollywood filmmakers could learn plenty from this marvelous little film from Argentina.

Rodrigo Noya is utterly charming and captivating as the title character, a 9-year-old boy who builds stuff for astronauts and whose attitude toward life and love is more adult than many of the adults in his life, including his father.

Director Alejandro Agresti's script is clever, humorous and poignant, yet, never becomes maudlin. Even a key moment in the story is deftly handled without an ounce of sentimentality. A Hollywood film most likely would have milked that scene dry with a melodramatic score and character histrionics.

"Valentín" is a celebration of childhood innocence. But it's also about how lessons learned as a young boy shape the adult man he is to become. There are moments in this film written so smartly you appreciate Agresti's talent. For instance, Valentin's scenes with Leticia are funny because of the way the two actors play the scenes so naturally, their dialogue and actions make perfect sense. Or, listen to the conversation between Valentin and his neighbor when they discuss the neighbor's ex-girlfriend over a cup of tea.

And the film's ending? A perfect close to a lovely story. Do yourself a favor and see this brilliant gem.