El último tren (2002)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Diego Arsuaga

Writers:

Diego Arsuaga (writer)
Beda Docampo Feijóo (writer)

Release Date:

31 May 2002 (Uruguay)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Action | Drama | Western

Tagline:

No te olvides. No te vendas. No te rindas.

Plot:

Three old man, a little boy training to protect an old patrimony, La "33", the last train.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Patrimony | Pensioner | Solidarity | Pursuit

Awards:

12 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Héctor Alterio	...	El Profesor
Federico Luppi	...	Pepe
José Soriano	...	Dante
Gastón Pauls	...	Jimmy Ferreira
Balaram Dinard	...	Guito
Eduardo Miglionico	...	Ponce
Elisa Contreras	...	Micaela
Saturnino García	...	De León
Jenny Goldstein	...	Notera
Fred Deakin	...	Mac Perry
Alfonso Tort	...	Daniel
Franklin Rodríguez	...	Reportero (as Franklín Rodríguez)
Juver Salcedo	...	Anciano 6 (as Júver Salcedo)
Jorge Bolani	...	Dr. Sichero
Augusto Mazzarelli	...	Papá Guito

Also Known As:

Corazón de fuego (Argentina)
El último tren (Spain)
Los durmientes (Uruguay)
The Last Train (International: English title)

Runtime:

Argentina:94 min | Canada:90 min (Montréal World Film Festival)

Country:

Argentina | Spain | Uruguay

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Spain:13 | Germany:6 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Bañados, Rocha, Uruguay

Company:

OK Films

Dreams

I had this gem for ages and only a while back did I manage to spend the time to watch it, you know, when you had something in the closet for a while you sort of forgot about its existence, like the not yet replied emails.

What strikes me the most is its touch of nostalgia despite its theme of patriotism and other social and political issues. The real world is cruel and, quoting the professor, "sometimes in History violence is necessary" (translation mine) and with the date of selling the locomotive to Hollywood loomed ever larger they decided to resort to "violence", i.e., action. They are a bunch of old men with the same passion- the locomotive, their treasure, their proud and their nation.

The professor relates a story of Ray Bradbury which I don't know which one is the one he is talking about that the characters faced the challenge and danger without hesitation, even though they were helplessly crushed in the end. It's the spirit that counts, says the prof. And it's in this same spirit that they set out on this journey in the last stage of their lives.

I can't help feeling sad and happy at the same time when the credit rolled because the beloved Dante, Pepe and prof are gone, they're old and soon would be dead, but there's hope as well, there's Guito. It's a reflection of the circle of life itself.