Nico and Dani (2000)

A Spanish coming of age story focusing on the antics of two 17 year olds, who have a posh beach house almost all to themselves one summer. This is also a summer of sexual awakenings.

Director:

Cesc Gay

Writers:

Tomàs Aragay (as Tomás Aragay), Cesc Gay

Stars:

Fernando Ramallo, Jordi Vilches, Marieta Orozco

12 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernando Ramallo	...	Dani
Jordi Vilches	...	Nico
Marieta Orozco	...	Elena
Esther Nubiola	...	Berta
Chisco Amado	...	Julián
Ana Gracia	...	Sonia
Myriam Mézières	...	Marianne
Muntsa Alcañiz	...	Madre Dani
Mingo Ràfols	...	Arturo
Pau Durà	...	Mario
Eduardo González	...	Camarero
Gaelle Poulavec	...	Chica
Jesús Garay	...	Padre Dani
Eloi Yebra	...	Manu
Jordi Sánchez

Storyline

Coming of age, on a Barcelona beach, during an eventful week: Nico arrives at Dani's for part of the summer. Dani's parents are away, Nico is keen to lose his virginity, and Dani, who's been Nico's friend since grammar school, wants time only with Nico. Dani's plans to hunt and fish are waylaid when Nico catches the eye of Elena and her cousin Berta. He wants to go to the beach with the girls, cook them dinner, and make love to at least one of them. Dani wants social and physical contact with Nico. Watching from a short distance are Sonia, Dani's tutor, and Julian, a gay writer, who picks up Dani's vibes. Can Nico and Dani sort out friendship as well as their mixed desires?

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Plot Keywords:

gay | summer | beach | coming of age | writer | 

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Taglines:

Two boys... and the summer that would change everything

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, some drug use and language - all involving teens

Details

Official Sites:

pprfilm - distributor [UK]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Catalan Spanish English

Release Date:

2 February 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nico and Dani

Filming Locations:

Castelldefels, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,942, 4 February 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$347,986, 15 July 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España,Generalitat de Catalunya - Departament de Cultura,Messidor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Thank You
Composed by Jorge Muñoz Cobo
Performed by Doctor Explosion
Bass: Félix A. Domínguez
Drums: Álvaro Coalla
Backing Vocals, Guitar, Castanets, Maracas, Tambourine: Jorge Muñoz Cobo
© & P 1999 Subterfuge Records

User Reviews

Excellent Film on Friendship, Growing Up

"Nico and Dani" is as true as a film on adolescence and sexual awakening can get. A key is that the title characters are not sleazy party animals, taking advantage of women and not thinking twice about it (seen more times than one in American teen comedies that are driven by zero morals)...they are not jock-ey savage pigs, but sensitive and confused. Without guidance, reasoning is tough for them...especially because they are searching for who they really are, and this entails coming to terms with their sexuality. The film takes place over a long, blurry muddle of a summer with many wonderful (as well as dark) moments of self-discovery. Dani is left alone for his vacation minusing a sexually frustrated cook/caretaker. He invites a longtime friend named Nico, who is sprightly and refreshing...but also very much in a perplexing state of identity awareness. He tries on homosexuality with Dani, but leans toward the other side when he meets the a great summer girl who he becomes fascinated with. This provokes Dani's envy and sadness and their friendship is tested when he realizes he is gay. Like even the best of summers, ones sexual awakening has its share of fond and bad memories. It is a time to cherish and learn from, although there is pain as well as hapiness...rain as well as sunshine. And the girls of summer always become that distant memory of something special, but left behind for good reasons as well as bad.