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Netflix is always keeping subscribers entertained with many new releases. Not all productions immediately become a hit with the critics and the audience, but their new sci-fi show is an exception.

The Eternaut just premiered on Netflix on Apr. 30, and it has become an instant success. The show is an Argentine sci-fi survival series based on the Eisner Award–winning graphic novel The Eternaut (El Eternauta) written by Oesterheld and illustrated by Solano López, which was published from 1957 to 1959. Aside from gaining a speedy renewal, The Eternaut also debuted at the top of Netflix's charts, per Tudum.

For the week between Apr. 28 and May 4,The Eternaut took the No. 1 spot globally in Netflix's non-English shows. It received 10.8 million views, with 58.3 million hours viewed. The new sci-fi survival show became the No. 1 show in 13 countries, including Argentina.

In the U.S.,The Eternaut debuted in sixth place after titles likeThe Four Seasons,...

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The Eternaut is an Argentine sci-fi survival thriller drama series created by Bruno Stagnaro. Based on the comic book of the same name by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, the Netflix series is set in Buenos Aires and revolves around a group of friends as they witness a mysterious snowfall killing most of the population. Now they must learn to evade the snow to survive while trying to fight against the aliens who are invading. The Eternaut stars Ricardo Darin, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, and Mora Fisz. So, if you loved the mysterious story, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in The Eternaut, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Rain (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

The Rain is a Danish post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller drama series created by Jannik Tai Mosholt,...

If the dystopian show Silo and the apocalyptic series The Walking Dead had a comic book baby raised on existential dread and snowstorms—it would be The Eternaut. And guess what? Netflix just adapted this apocalyptic gem, and despite not having big names like Rebecca Ferguson, it’s already snowballing into a cult hit with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score!

Based on the legendary 1950s comic by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, Netflix’s The Eternaut isn’t just another survival story—it’s a deep, chilling dive into humanity versus alien horror. Only 6 episodes in, but with a Season 2 already brewing for 2026, this show might be Netflix’s boldest sci-fi move yet.

Comic book adaptation The Eternaut took Netflix by storm

Move over, superheroes—Netflix just proved you don’t need capes and spandex to make comic book adaptations go viral. The Eternaut, based on the iconic 1950s...

The post-apocalyptic subgenre of sci-fi has gotten a big boost in recent years, notably with the Apple TV+ breakout Silo. But other streaming services have explored what a dystopian wasteland would look like, albeit with a lighter touch. That's been the case with Prime Video's Fallout, which garnered awards buzz and topped the streaming charts. Both shows are returning for additional seasons, buoyed by the audience interest they've garnered.

Netflix is well-positioned to put its stamp on the genre. The streaming platform releases hundreds of new shows each year, in several different languages. As proven by Squid Game, a title that debuts relatively quietly has a solid chance of breaking out and finding an audience. That looks to be what's happening now with a new Spanish-language drama that's winning over viewers and critics.

Netflix's New Show Continues To Make An Impact It's #1 In 13 Countries

The Eternaut debuted on Netflix in April.

Just confirmed as No. 1 on Netflix’s global Top 10 list of non-English language series one week after its premiere, “The Eternaut” plowed 41 billion pesos ($33 million), adjusted for inflation, into Argentina’s economy, Netflix has revealed to Variety.

The economic injection is an extraordinary indicator of the value of major international productions to local economies around the world.

Using common economic practice, the total investment, a measure of impact on Gdp, includes both direct production spending and its ripple effect throughout the supply chain. Netflix noted.

For the week April 28-Sunday May 4, “The Eternaut” amassed 10.8 million views worldwide, the production landed in the weekly Top 10 series in 87 countries, including Brazil, France, India, the U.S, Italy, Mexico, Germany and Spain, proving that Netflix hedged the right bet on Bruno Stagnaro’s adaptation of the iconic Argentine comic strip created by Héctor G. Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López.

The six-part sci-fi episodic,...

In news that’s sure to shock everyone, the merciless cancelation axe of Netflix will remain unswung when it comes to new post-apocalypse series, The Eternaut. Released at the end of last week, the streamer has already confirmed that The Eternaut, which follows a group of survivors as they fight to live through a mysterious, toxic snowstorm, will return for Season 2.

The boss of Netflix’s Latin American programming, Francisco ‘Paco’ Ramos, has revealed to Deadline that The Eternaut Season 2 will consist of eight episodes, two more than its predecessor, with the second series bringing the story to a close. Check out what Ramos has to say about the renewal below:

“Season 2 is going to be very important. It’s going to dig into a lot of sci-fi concepts that were just pointed out in Season 1, and they are going to be fully blown.” Mosteirin picks up the thread: “We...

The Eternaut on Netflix just came out on April 30, but the Argentinian series is already gaining a fanbase as it's made its way to the Top 10 row on the platform. It's not surprising given the apocalyptic/sci-fi element to it. And it seems like we're not the only ones who are fans of the show. Netflix is too!

The Eternaut season 2 has already been confirmed, according to Deadline. That means there's more story to tell from the series based on the graphic novel by Héctor G. Oesterheld. This is definitely great news for those of us who have already enjoyed season 1.

With the first season being six episodes, producer Matías Mosteirin told the news outlet that season will most likely get a couple more, coming in at a total of eight episodes. Netflix's Latin American programming head also shared the following with Deadline about the second season:

“Season 2 is going to be very important,...

Netflix is feeling generous lately, releasing more shows that managed to score a follow-up season. In recent months, the streamer renewed shows like Nobody Wants This, Running Point, North of North, and now granted an instant renewal to a just-released sci-fi show.

On Apr. 30, Netflix released the Argentine sci-fi survival seriesThe Eternaut. The show is based on the Eisner Award–winning graphic novel The Eternaut (El Eternauta) written by Oesterheld and illustrated by Solano López, which was published from 1957 to 1959. Just days following its release on Netflix, Deadline reports the streamer already has big plans for The Eternaut Season 2.

The streamer’s Latin American programming boss, Francisco ‘Paco’ Ramos teased what's to come for the show in the future, and revealed that Season 2 will wrap the story. "Season 2 is going to be very important," Ramos teased. "It’s going to dig into a lot of sci-fi concepts that were just...

As a literary medium, cartoons, comic books, and graphic novels have been used as a weapon wielded by writers and artists against oppressive state machinery since as far back as the 18th century, showcased through some of the most critical, influential political allegories like Maus, V for Vendetta, and Persepolis, to name a few. In a similar vein, renowned Argentinian journalist and writer Hector German Oesterheld penned his famous comic series, The Eternaut, to use the seemingly conventional sci-fi elements of an alien invasion theory to raise a voice against the autocratic military governance prominent across South America. The visionary nature of his work is demonstrated by the fact that The Eternaut acted as an ominous prediction of Argentina turning into an autocratic military state, and the writer perished along with a number of his family members in his efforts to counter the tyrannical forces in power. The characters in...

From The Last of Us to Silo, the world seemingly can't get enough of post-apocalyptic stories, with many of the top streamers dominated by the boldest of this genre. However, despite its popularity, it's likely some might fall under the radar, such is the constant and overflowing streaming of content global viewers now face. One such series to have only just arrived on Netflix is The Eternaut/El Eternauta, an audiovisual adaptation of the beloved graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and illustrator Francisco Solano Lopez.

After officially releasing on the platform on April 30, the series is already the recipient of enormous praise, including from both critics and audiences on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. With initial reviews now in, The Eternaut already boasts a huge 89% critical score on the site, remarkably bettered by the near-perfect 96% score awarded from audiences. This high praise puts the adaptation in impressive genre-based company,...

The first reviews for the new Netflix post-apocalypse series, The Eternaut, have now started to emerge, and the series now has enough data to produce a rating on Rotten Tomatoes. So, does the streamer have its own The Last of Us? Or is The Eternaut another Netflix series destined to be forgotten within the merciless algorithm?

The series, which centers on a group of survivors after a deadly snowstorm kills millions, has now debuted with a seriously promising score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. So, while The Eternaut doesn’t quite reach the critically acclaimed heights of The Last of Us’ 95% on the review aggregator site, it certainly promises to be a thrilling companion piece. Screen Rant’s Nick Bythrow awarded the series an impressive rating of 8/10, praising the Netflix adaptation’s modernization of Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López’s comic and creating a show that’s “perfect for sci-fi fans.

Ricardo Darín, the actor in Netflix's new post-apocalypse series, The Eternaut, has jumped ahead and said that Season 2 of the series has to be produced in the near future. The dystopian series was released today, meaning it's still too early to speculate how it does in terms of critical reception and the appraisal of worldwide audiences.

However, when speaking to Vogue Spain, Darín makes it seem as if a second season is inevitable. "It's not that I look for challenges, but when the opportunity arises, I instantly feel it," says the actor about making the show, which spent decades in development hell. He has been attached to the project since 2018, when Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia expressed interest in bringing the comic book to the big screen. Darin is also involved as executive producer on the show, which perhaps has given him the ability to look into the...

Netflix teased one of its most anticipated Latin American releases to date, “The Eternaut” (“El Eternauta”), at a decked-out themed fête ahead of today’s streaming release to 200 countries, dubbed into more than 12 languages, with subtitles in more than 30.

Directed by Bruno Stagnaro, who co-directed the country’s cult classic “Pizza, Beer and Cigarettes” before going on to helm the lauded series “Okupas,” the six-episode series was written by Stagnaro and actor-scribe Ariel Staltari and produced by Hugo Sigman, Matías Mosteirin, Leticia Cristi and Diego Copello at Buenos Aires-based K&s Films (“Wild Tales”).

“This series is an expression of what an entire industry is capable of. We’ve gained a lot of knowledge in making it, and we believe that this project expands our country’s productive capacity to produce audiovisual content,” Mosteirin told a packed auditorium.

A modern sci-fi thriller based on the seminal Argentine graphic novel of the...

A new epic post-apocalyptic science fiction series from Netflix that could give HBO's hit video game adaptation The Last of Us some stiff competition is coming at the end of this month. Based on an Eisner Award-winning graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, The Eternaut will drop audiences into a terrifying post-apocalypse and follows a group of people who attempt to survive a strange weather phenomenon that leaves them all fighting for their lives.

The first season of the thriller series will consist of six episodes and has been brought to live-action life by creator and director Bruno Stagnaro who co-wrote the series alongside writer and actor Ariel Staltari (El puntero). The series is all set to be led by Ricardo Darín as Juan Salvo, who finds himself elected leader of this group of survivors in Buenos Aires, who must bring them together after a toxic snowfall kills millions.

Se estrena en la plataforma de streaming a finales de abril. © Netflix

Netflix ha publicado el primer tráiler de la serie El Eternauta, basada en la icónica novela gráfica argentina homónima de 1957 escrita por Héctor G. Oesterheld e ilustrada por Francisco Solano López.

En El Eternauta, una noche de verano, una misteriosa tormenta de nieve acaba con la vida de casi todos los habitantes de Buenos Aires y deja atrapados a unos pocos supervivientes. Juan Salvo y sus amigos s emprenden un viaje desesperado para sobrevivir, sin embargo, todo cambia cuando descubren que la tormenta tóxica era solo el primer ataque de un ejército alienígena que pretende invadir la Tierra. El único modo de sobrevivir es unirse y luchar.

La serie de seis episodios está protagonizada por Ricardo Darín como Juan Salvo, acompañado de un elenco que incluye a Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, Claudio Martínez Bel,...

Netflix has shared the new trailer and key art for the sci-fi series The Eternaut, which will begin streaming globally on April 30.

One summer’s night in Buenos Aires, a mysterious snowfall wipes out millions with only a touch, leaving the survivors all alone. Juan Salvo and his friends embark on a desperate struggle for survival.

But everything changes when they discover that the deadly snow is only the first attack by a foreign army invading Earth. No one will survive on their own – the only way to stay alive is to join together and fight.

The live-action series is based on the 1957 graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López. The six-episode series was created and directed by Bruno Stagnaro (Okupas) and co-written by Stagnaro and writer-actor Ariel Staltari (Un Gallo para Esculapio).

The cast includes Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto,...

"It's not about surviving. It's about taking our home back." Netflix debuted an intense full-length official trailer for the sci-fi thriller series The Eternaut, arriving to watch at the end of April in one month (here's the teaser). Based on the acclaimed Argentinian sci-fi graphic novel of the same name - The Eternaut, or El Eternauta, is set in Buenos Aires. The story follows Juan Salvo along with a group of survivors as they battle an alien threat that is under the direction of an invisible force after a horrific fatal snowfall claims the lives of millions of people. This snow kills anyone it touches, but they don't know why or what is causing it. This band of humans tries to figure out what's going on before they're all gone. Starring Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, Claudio Martínez Bel, Orianna Cárdenas, & Mora Fisz.

‘The Eternaut’ (Spanish: El Eternauta) is an Argentine science fiction comic created by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, with illustrations by Francisco Solano López.

It was first published in a magazine called Hora Cero Semanal between 1957 and 1959 as a serialized comic. The story follows a small group of survivors after a deadly alien invasion in Buenos Aires.

‘The Eternaut’ was supposed to be adapted to live-action several times in the last couple of decades but every time the project would be abandoned either due to copyright issues of the sheer cost of the project. In February 2020, it was announced that the comic would be made into a TV series for Netflix.

The show will be directed by Bruno Stagnaro and set in the present day. Ricardo Darín will play the lead role, with Carla Peterson, Marcelo Subiotto, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, and Ariel Staltari also in the cast.

In the series, a...

Buenos Aires has only seen snowfall three times in its recorded history. This time, it kills everything it touches in an instant. Is it nuclear war or something even more sinister?

Find out when “The Eternaut” invades Netflix globally on April 30.

The Spanish-language sci-fi series is based on the 1957 Argentine comic written by Héctor G. Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano Lopez.

One summer’s night in Buenos Aires, a mysterious deadly snowfall wipes out most of the population and leaves thousands stranded. Juan Salvo and his friends embark on a desperate struggle for survival. Everything changes when they discover that the toxic snowstorm is only the first attack by a foreign army invading Earth.

The only way to stay alive is to join together and fight. No one will survive on their own.

Director Bruno Stagnaro created the six-episode show, which he co-wrote with Ariel Staltari.

“[The Eternaut] was...

A new epic post-apocalyptic science fiction series from Netflix has finally been given a release date. And we don’t have to wait long. Titled The Eternaut, the series is based on the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel "The Eternaut" ("El Eternauta") by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, with the terrifying story dropping audiences in Buenos Aires, which suddenly finds itself shrouded in a snowfall. Not only is snow extremely rare for the city, but this snow is also far from normal, killing everyone it touches.

Netflix has revealed that the live-action adaptation The Eternaut is due to land on the streamer on April 30. The first season will consist of six episodes and has been brought to live-action life by creator and director Bruno Stagnaro who co-wrote the series alongside writer and actor Ariel Staltari (El puntero).

The series is all set to be led by Ricardo Darín as Juan Salvo,...

‘The Eternaut’ (Spanish: El Eternauta) is an Argentine science fiction comic created by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, with illustrations by Francisco Solano López. It was first published in a magazine called Hora Cero Semanal between 1957 and 1959 as a serialized comic. The story follows a small group of survivors after a deadly alien invasion in Buenos Aires.

‘The Eternaut’ was supposed to be adapted to live-action several times in the last couple of decades but every time the project would be abandoned either due to copyright issues of the sheer cost of the project. In February 2020, it was announced that the comic would be made into a TV series for Netflix.

The show will be directed by Bruno Stagnaro and set in the present day. Ricardo Darín will play the lead role, with Carla Peterson, Marcelo Subiotto, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, and Ariel Staltari also in the cast.

In the series, a...

The classic Argentine graphic novel The Eternaut is getting a chilling new series adaptation, and Netflix has unveiled the first look teaser previewing an icy alien apocalypse ahead.

Netflix premieres The Eternaut globally on April 30, 2025.

In the series, “One summer’s night in Buenos Aires, a mysterious deadly snowfall wipes out most of the population and leaves thousands stranded. Juan Salvo and his friends embark on a desperate struggle for survival. Everything changes when they discover that the toxic snowstorm is only the first attack by a foreign army invading Earth. The only way to stay alive is to join together and fight. No one will survive on their own.”

To reiterate, the snow is actually radioactive, released as part of an alien invasion that slowly reveals itself in this apocalyptic scenario. The series marks the first screen adaptation of the sci-fi graphic novel written by Héctor G. Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano Lopez,...

"If anyone is listening, please respond." The end of the world has never looked this calm & peaceful. Netflix has revealed a first look teaser for their upcoming apocalyptic series called The Eternaut, based on the acclaimed Argentinian sci-fi graphic novel of the same name. This was revealed as part of Netflix'x Geeked Week 2024 previews - The Eternaut, or El Eternauta, is set in Buenos Aires. The story follows Juan Salvo along with a group of survivors as they battle an alien threat that is under the direction of an invisible force after a horrific fatal snowfall claims the lives of millions of people. This snow kills anyone it touches, but they don't know why or what is causing it. This band of human survivors tries to figure out what is going on before they're gone, too. The series features Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto,...

One of the genre projects on Netflix’s 2024 Preview slate this week is a sci-fi series titled “El Eternauta,” and the streaming service has provided us with a first-look image this morning.

Coming in 2024, the series has one hell of an interesting premise…

“After a deadly snowstorm that kills millions, Juan Salvo, along with a group of survivors, fights against an alien threat that’s controlled by an invisible force.”

Netflix notes, “This is the first audiovisual adaptation of the iconic graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López.”

The cast includes Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, Claudio Martínez Bel, Orianna Cárdenas, and Mora Fisz.

Bruno Stagnaro directed “El Eternauta.”

The post “El Eternauta” – Upcoming Netflix Series Features a Snowstorm Apocalypse and an Alien Threat appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

"El Eternauta" is a new 6-episode live-action science fiction TV series, directed by Bruno Stagnaro in Buenos Aires, adapting the Argentine graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, starring Ricardo Darín, streaming in 2023 on Netflix:

"..after a deadly snowstorm kills millions, 'Juan Salvo' along with a group of survivors fight to the death against an alien threat, controlled by an unseen, invisible force...."

Cast also includes Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, Claudio Martínez Bel, Orianna Cárdenas and Mora Fisz.

Click the images to enlarge...

The Visitor Review — The Visitor (2021) Film Review from the 21st Annual Tribeca Film Festival, a movie directed by Martin Boulocq, written by Martin Boulocq, and starring Enrique Araoz, César Troncoso, Svet Mena, Mirella Pascual, Teresa Gutierrez, and Romel Vargas. Few stories could be more direct than that of Continue reading: Film Review: The Visitor: A Slice of Life with No Frills and Lots of Grit [Tribeca 2022]...

Natalia Oreiro (“I’m Gilda”), Gustavo Bassani (“Separados”) and Mercedes Moran (“Spider) head the cast of Argentine Amazon Original “Iosi, El Espía Arrepentido,” one of Amazon Prime Original’s biggest bets to date in Latin America.

The series, an espionage thriller, will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Showrun by Daniel Burman, a leading light of the New Argentine Cinema and recent Cannes Un Certain Regard jury member, “Iosi, El Espía Arrepentido” is produced by Oficina Burman, part of The Mediapro Studio, whose credits include “Pequeña Victoria” and “Pequeñas victorias, perdidxs en la Tierra,” both produced with Vis, with the latter acquired for Latin America by Amazon Prime Video.

Burman serves a series creator and showrunner on a banner project for the writer-director, which was one of the two he presented in person at Berlin Festival in 2017 when Mediapro confirmed it had taken a substantial stake in Oficina Burman.

Uruguay has chosen Alvaro Brechner’s historic thriller A Twelve-Year Night as the country's submission for consideration in the foreign-language film Oscar category.

Starring Antonio de la Torre, Chino Darín (El Angel), Alfonso Tort and César Troncoso (Another Story of the World), the film tells the true story of three Tupamaro guerrilla members who were captured by the Uruguayan dictatorship in the early 1970s and thrown into solitary confinement for 12 years. The group included future president Jose "Pepe" Mujica.

A Twelve-Year Night premiered at the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival, where now former president ...

Uruguay has chosen Alvaro Brechner’s historic thriller A Twelve-Year Night as the country's submission for consideration in the foreign-language film Oscar category.

Starring Antonio de la Torre, Chino Darín (El Angel), Alfonso Tort and César Troncoso (Another Story of the World), the film tells the true story of three Tupamaro guerrilla members who were captured by the Uruguayan dictatorship in the early 1970s and thrown into solitary confinement for 12 years. The group included future president Jose "Pepe" Mujica.

A Twelve-Year Night premiered at the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival, where now former president ...

There are of a bounty of riches coming to the Sundance Film Festival, and while there are plenty of high profile movies to get excited about, we’re always just as thrilled to seek out the less starry corners of the schedule. One film that could make waves on opening day in Park City is the World Drama entry “Loveling.”

Co-written and directed by Gustavo Pizzi, and starring Karine Teles, Otávio Müller, Adriana Esteves, Konstantinos Sarris, and César Troncoso, the story follows a woman whose lively family is upended when her teenage son is drafted to play professional handball in Germany.

Continue reading ‘Loveling’ Clip & Poster: Bonds Of Family Are The Hardest To Break [Sundance Exclusive] at The Playlist.

Shout! Factory has signed a deal with California-based distributor Cinevox to release Brazilian Western (Faroeste Caboclo) in the Us and Canada.

René Sampaio directed and produced the crime drama that premiered in Toronto last autumn and  is scheduled to play the Miami International Film Festival on March 8.

Fabrício Boliveira, Isis Valverde, Felipe Abib, Antônio Calloni, César Troncoso, Marcos Paulo and Flavio Bauraqui star.

Shout! Factory acquired select theatrical, exclusive digital and broadcast and home entertainment rights for the Us and Canada and plans a strategic rollout on multiple platforms and packaged media later this year.

Shout! Factory co-founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos made the announcement with Cinevox executive Andre Gaines.

Anina, Uruguay's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. International Sales Agent: Raindogs Cine

Just as 3D Animation has become the all-engulfing form of the animation genre, a ray of light comes directly from South America to reignite the flame of traditional animation. Alfredo Soderguit’s film Anina is not only refreshing because of its aesthetic, but because it depicts a different cultural perspective in a medium sporadically developed in Latin America. Both adorable and smart, the film takes advantage of the peculiar animation style that for all its little imperfections is all the more beautiful.

“Capicua” means palindrome in Spanish and much to her discontent, the endearing title character was cursed with a triple palindrome combination. Anina Yatay Salas, the girl’s full name, can be read both forwards and backwards, a quality that Anina ( Federica Lacaño) sees as an abomination. However, the ten-year-old "Capicua girl”, as her classmates have nicknamed her, has bigger problems than her curious name. After a confrontation with her worse enemy Yisel ( Lucía Parrilla), an overweight girl in their class who Anina calls a “she elephant”, they must both face the consequences. In order to punish the girls the school’s principal gives each one a black wax-sealed envelope and forbids them to open it under any circumstance and from telling anyone about it for the next week. Such a seemingly simple request becomes a tremendous feat to accomplish in the hands of mischievous Anina.

Her feud with Yisel is not only about the name-calling, but also about her romantic crush, Yonatan (Pedro Cruz). With the help of her dear friend Florencia ( Guillermina Pardo), Anina will try to steal Yisel’s envelope to uncover the mysterious punishment. Added to her hilarious school drama, Anina wants some answers from her parents. She wants to know why would anyone deliberately put their daughter through life with such a horrendous name, at least in her eyes. Loving and patient, her parents (voiced by María Mendive and César Troncoso) explain how unique her name is, and how proud she should be. Especially proud of her name is her father, a rock and roll lover who dedicatedly creates palindrome phrases as gifts for his young daughter. Unsatisfied with their responses and caught up with her other dilemmas, sassy Anina must resolve things her own way.

Few animated films can convey a classic tale with a message about family and friendship packed with intelligent humor. As if taken from the pages of a children’s book, there is a subtle quirkiness about all the characters, and their oversized heads and simple features give the film a special look. On occasion, the story goes into funny tangents that materialize in Anina’s imagination, like her vision of her and her mother as happily misbehaving piglets or her induction into an exclusive league of people with the ugliest names in the world. It is amusing to see how the story deals with the importance children give to things that would seem irrelevant to adults. The magnitude of Anina’s problems can only be explained by her age, and such a charming perspective makes the film really special.

Soderguit’s film is lively, witty, and full of heart. It is about putting oneself in another person's shoes and realizing that sometimes the huge problems that cause headaches are not as relevant as long as the truly important things are still in place. There is no one better than a child to teach a lesson about what really matters. The film defies convention by not trying to Americanize its concept, but rather embracing its own Uruguayan peculiarities that also apply, and will surely connect, to other Latin American countries. From the voiceover work to the inclusion of classic songs from the region, this is as authentic a film as one will find from the South American nation, and the fact that it is an animated piece turns it into an work of ingenious originality. Anina is a heartwarming tale that is destined to become a classic, an utter delight, which this writer fell in love with.

Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...

Title: Clandestine Childhood Director: Benjamín Ávila Starring: Natalia Oreiro, Ernesto Alterio, César Troncoso, Teo Gutiérrez Romero, Cristina Banegas, Douglas Simon, Violeta Palukas, Marcelo Mininno, Mayana Neiva. When abuse of power and violence take over, the crossroads between ideals and the safeguard of your loved ones is inevitable. The Argentinian director, Benjamín Ávila, was inspired by his personal infancy in the making of this historical film, set during the “Dirty War,” the time of state terrorism in Argentina. ‘Clandestine Childhood’ portrays the story of a married couple of Montoneros (the organisation fighting against the Military Junta ruling the country) living in Cuba with their two children, who manage, through the help [ Read More ]

The post Clandestine Childhood Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Clandestine Childhood

Directed by Benjamín Ávila

Argentina, 2011

Philadelphia Film Festival

Benjamín Ávila’s debut feature is a fine balance of youthful longing and militant resistance.

Ernesto (Teo Gutiérrez Romero) has two names. One name – Ernesto – is for his schoolmates, but he goes by Juan at home. His parents also have two names. Horacio goes by Daniel (César Troncoso) and Cristina by Charo (Natalia Oreiro). It’s Argentina in 1979, and five years after Perón’s death, Horacio, Cristina and charismatic Uncle Beto (Ernesto Alterio) continue the fight against the existing regime through violent tactics.

Using a mixed-media strategy where moments of extreme violence are depicted through graphic animations, Ávila’s film keeps the focus firmly on Juan and his budding relationship with a classmate’s sister, María (Violeta Palukas).

Romero’s surprisingly tender and mature performance recalls the two great Ana Torrent roles from the 1970s in Spirit of the Beehive and Cria Cuervos.

Clandestine Childhood

Directed by Benjamín Ávila

Argentina, 2011

Philadelphia Film Festival

Benjamín Ávila’s debut feature is a fine balance of youthful longing and militant resistance.

Ernesto (Teo Gutiérrez Romero) has two names. One name – Ernesto – is for his schoolmates, but he goes by Juan at home. His parents also have two names. Horacio goes by Daniel (César Troncoso) and Cristina by Charo (Natalia Oreiro). It’s Argentina in 1979, and five years after Perón’s death, Horacio, Cristina and charismatic Uncle Beto (Ernesto Alterio) continue the fight against the existing regime through violent tactics.

Using a mixed-media strategy where moments of extreme violence are depicted through graphic animations, Ávila’s film keeps the focus firmly on Juan and his budding relationship with a classmate’s sister, María (Violeta Palukas).

Romero’s surprisingly tender and mature performance recalls the two great Ana Torrent roles from the 1970s in Spirit of the Beehive and Cria Cuervos.

• [Ed's note: This month Bruno keeps tabs on the Heitor Dhalia's big in scope project, updates us on César Charlone's festival fav, and let's us know what Fernando Meirelles is up to.] Setting SailHeitor Dhalia (director from Drained, chosen as the best Brazilian movie of 2006) is about to begin shooting his third movie. Called À Deriva (Adrift), the story is described as a portrait of the first generation of children whose parents are divorcing. A 14 year old immerses into the adult’s world when she finds out that her father is having an affair. The cast is composed by the French actor Vincent Cassel (from “Irréversible” and “Eastern Promises”) as the father, the American actress Camilla Belle (from the hits “10,000 B.C.” and “A Little Princess”) as the mistress and the Brazilian actresses Débora Bloch and Taís Araujo. The shooting starts in April in Brazil. Dreaming Big The Pope’s Toilet (co-production between Uruguay, Brazil and France) is the first incursion of the Uruguayan, but settled in Brazil cinematographer César Charlone does the double duty of director and writer, tasks that he shares with Enrique Fernández.

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