Tati Benitez, a young man living in Northern Argentina, works in the wood mill industry of the region. When he loses his job, Tati begins getting wood he finds all over that he uses for carving, making all kinds of figures of animals. He doesn't have to go far for his inspiration. The area of the country where he lives is poor; his prospects of employment are nil. Like most of his countrymen, is an avid soccer fan. His idol, Diego Maradona, one of the best players of all time. One day, walking in the woods he sees a tree with a strange formation. He gets an inspiration: he will make a sculpture in his idol's image.
When Maradona gets sick, Tati, like the rest of the country, sits glued in front of the television set in town. The eager soccer fans have staged vigils outside the Buenos Aires clinic where the great Diego is being treated. Tati, acting on an impulse, decides to bring the statue to Maradona. The only problem is, he doesn't have enough money to pay for the trip. His wife, who understands the need for Tati to go to the capital, borrows some money so he can go.
Tati has a winning personality. He is a contented person that has not been outside of the area where he was born. Carrying the statue of Maradona wrapped in plastic, he starts his journey that will bring him closer to his idol. All he wants to do is pay homage to the man that gave him so much when he was active in the game. Along the road, Tati proves to be a resourceful man, making friends with all he comes in contact with.
The one person that made the difference was a Waguinho, a Brazilian truck driver who is going to Buenos Aires with a thousands of chickens in his semi. Yes, he will take Tati to the capital; along the way the two men bond in unexpected ways. The older Waguinho understands Tati because he sees a kind soul, even when his own preferences lay not with Maradona, but with another Brazilian, Pele. The two newly acquainted friends get into an easy friendship until they get to the end of the line.
Tati decides to take his statue directly to the golf course where it has been reported Maradona has been going after his escape from the clinic. He had left against his doctors' advice. The last leg of Tati's journey involves a bus ride with a blind man who makes a living selling lottery tickets. Tati helps this man get to the area where he will peddle his chances, right outside the golf course. Tati goes to the security area to give his present, he is told to leave it with the guard. Maradona who is thought to arrive in an ambulance is never seen. Tati wonders if Diego has seen the gift, the guard checks and nothing is found, leading the young peasant to believe his gift has been accepted. As he walks away, he goes to say good bye to the blind lottery seller. He wants to know if the man wants help. Instead, the blind man gives him a lottery ticket, as a token of his gratitude, telling Tati, he feels it will be a winner.
Carlos Sorin, the creator of this immensely enjoyable film, shows he is a great observer of humans. As he has demonstrated with his delightful, "Intimate Stories", he is at it again with this tale about a kind hearted, but naive man that embarks in a trip of discovery just to repay, in a way, the joys a soccer player of the stature of Maradona has given him, without asking. As with his other film, this is a type of road movie in which a man will discover a world he didn't know, but in doing so, he also will touch the lives of the people that he comes in contact with.
Part of our enjoyment is watching a beautiful story that rings true. This is a film where non professional actors carry the film effortlessly. The charismatic Ignacio Benitez is playing himself. A peasant that probably has not seen the world outside his village, he does a wonderful job for the director. Equally excellent is Carlos Wagner LaBella, who plays Waguinho, a jolly man that sees the good in the young man on a mission. They bond together in unexpected ways, complimenting each other and enhancing the film in the process.
The soundtrack is by Nicolas Sorin, the son of the director. The amazing views of the unknown countryside that tourists never see is by Hugo Colace who has worked with the director before. Carlos Sorin surprises us, yet again, with this vision of hope. This is a positive film that will charm its viewers.
When Maradona gets sick, Tati, like the rest of the country, sits glued in front of the television set in town. The eager soccer fans have staged vigils outside the Buenos Aires clinic where the great Diego is being treated. Tati, acting on an impulse, decides to bring the statue to Maradona. The only problem is, he doesn't have enough money to pay for the trip. His wife, who understands the need for Tati to go to the capital, borrows some money so he can go.
Tati has a winning personality. He is a contented person that has not been outside of the area where he was born. Carrying the statue of Maradona wrapped in plastic, he starts his journey that will bring him closer to his idol. All he wants to do is pay homage to the man that gave him so much when he was active in the game. Along the road, Tati proves to be a resourceful man, making friends with all he comes in contact with.
The one person that made the difference was a Waguinho, a Brazilian truck driver who is going to Buenos Aires with a thousands of chickens in his semi. Yes, he will take Tati to the capital; along the way the two men bond in unexpected ways. The older Waguinho understands Tati because he sees a kind soul, even when his own preferences lay not with Maradona, but with another Brazilian, Pele. The two newly acquainted friends get into an easy friendship until they get to the end of the line.
Tati decides to take his statue directly to the golf course where it has been reported Maradona has been going after his escape from the clinic. He had left against his doctors' advice. The last leg of Tati's journey involves a bus ride with a blind man who makes a living selling lottery tickets. Tati helps this man get to the area where he will peddle his chances, right outside the golf course. Tati goes to the security area to give his present, he is told to leave it with the guard. Maradona who is thought to arrive in an ambulance is never seen. Tati wonders if Diego has seen the gift, the guard checks and nothing is found, leading the young peasant to believe his gift has been accepted. As he walks away, he goes to say good bye to the blind lottery seller. He wants to know if the man wants help. Instead, the blind man gives him a lottery ticket, as a token of his gratitude, telling Tati, he feels it will be a winner.
Carlos Sorin, the creator of this immensely enjoyable film, shows he is a great observer of humans. As he has demonstrated with his delightful, "Intimate Stories", he is at it again with this tale about a kind hearted, but naive man that embarks in a trip of discovery just to repay, in a way, the joys a soccer player of the stature of Maradona has given him, without asking. As with his other film, this is a type of road movie in which a man will discover a world he didn't know, but in doing so, he also will touch the lives of the people that he comes in contact with.
Part of our enjoyment is watching a beautiful story that rings true. This is a film where non professional actors carry the film effortlessly. The charismatic Ignacio Benitez is playing himself. A peasant that probably has not seen the world outside his village, he does a wonderful job for the director. Equally excellent is Carlos Wagner LaBella, who plays Waguinho, a jolly man that sees the good in the young man on a mission. They bond together in unexpected ways, complimenting each other and enhancing the film in the process.
The soundtrack is by Nicolas Sorin, the son of the director. The amazing views of the unknown countryside that tourists never see is by Hugo Colace who has worked with the director before. Carlos Sorin surprises us, yet again, with this vision of hope. This is a positive film that will charm its viewers.