Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

A Lower East Side teen-ager struggles to find some sanity while surrounded by an eccentric grandmother, a crazy new girlfriend, and a longing younger brother.

Director:

Peter Sollett

Writers:

Peter Sollett (story), Peter Sollett

Stars:

Victor Rasuk, Donna Maldonado, Kevin Rivera

4 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor Rasuk	...	Victor
Donna Maldonado	...	Donna
Kevin Rivera	...	Harold
Krystal Rodriguez	...	Vicki
Judy Marte	...	Judy
Melonie Diaz	...	Melonie
Matthew Roberts	...	Hector
Alexander Garcia	...	Al
John Ramos	...	Macho
Theresa Martinez	...	Judy's Mom
Altagracia Guzman	...	Grandma
Silvestre Rasuk	...	Nino
Wilfree Vasquez	...	Carlos
Randy Luna	...	Pool Boy #3
Jeff Knite	...	Pool Boy #4 (as Jeff Asencio)

Storyline

Victor is growing up on the Lower East Side and is at the age where he is driven by desire and unchained by maturity. His image as a ladies man is shattered when he is found in Fat Donna's bedroom. Soon, as a result of his sister's big mouth, the whole Dominican community knows. Full of confidence, Victor sets out to reclaim his image by winning Judy. Judy proves to be elusive and difficult. Victor persists, and with a surprising tenderness, ultimately wins Judy's heart.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | boy apologizes to girl | baby chicken | religious cross | child custody | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's working title was "Long Way Home".

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Quotes

Guy hanging out: [to Melonie and Judy] Hey, whassup. How y'all doin'? Which one'a yo wanna get fucked in the doody ho? You?

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Connections

Remake of Five Feet High and Rising (2000)

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Soundtracks

Casado y Cansado (No Puedo Mas)
Written by Coati Mundi (as Coati Mundi Hernandez)
Produced by Coati Mundi
Performed by ManicPhonic Meltdown

User Reviews

"No Pause" Needed

"Raising Victor Vargas" is one of those light, family movies that you can watch and do the N.Y. Times crossword puzzle at the same time. And if you want to go to the kitchen for a taco and a Corona, you don't have to "Pause" the DVD. Just let it roll, 'cause you won't be missing anything really important. No twists, turns, or tension. It's not really an ethnic movie, it's a movie about a poor, struggling immigrant family that happens to be Latino. They could have been any ethnic group. It made very little difference. I've seen it all a zillion times before. Just plug in a Jewish family, an Italian family, a Black family, or an Irish family. Just the accents and names were different. If the Vargas family was named Bush or Clinton and were Presbyterians, the movie would have been a total snooze.

It's funny that the critics here couldn't get the locale straight. Some said it was Spanish Harlem. Some the Bronx, and another Brooklyn. As a life-long New Yorker, I vote for the Lower East Side. And it seemed that the family never met up with anyone except other Latinos. They lived in an insulated/isolated little enclave. Some interaction with non-Latinos might have created some excitement, interest, or tension. Remember West Side Story?

And now for the oft-criticized cinematography. I don't know if it was my TV or what, but all the indoor shots looked very ORANGE to me. The apt, the furniture, and the faces were all ORANGE. What was that supposed to mean? And the apt. did look pretty cramped to me. Somebody here mentioned that the old apt's/tenements had very big rooms. Well, maybe 50 years ago. What landlords have done is to break up one big apt into 2 or 3 very small ones and squeeze as many immigrants as they can into them.

And another annoying thing ....This is the second family movie I've seen and criticized this week that featured a teenage boy "jerking off". Is this private sex act necessary for us to watch? Please spare me! What's up with these directors?

So "Victor Vargas" is a pleasant little movie. It was nice for a change to see young Latino actors given a break and a chance to show their talents, which they did. But the writers let them down, giving them a flat, unspectacular script to work with. Enjoy the show, but keep your fingers near the "fast forward" button.

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

2 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Raising Victor Vargas

Filming Locations:

Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,166, 30 March 2003

Gross USA:

$2,078,661

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,816,116

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Forensic Films, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1