Argentine director Juan Jose Campanella's Oscar-nominated film is a low-key comedy drama, enhanced by compelling performances from a gifted cast. Middle-aged Rafael Belvedere (Ricardo Darin) yearns for the carefree days of his boyhood, playing Zorro and watching old TV shows with his best friend, when any grief could be .. Read more
| Starring | Ricardo Darin, Hector Alterio, Norma Aleandro, Natalia Verbeke |
|---|---|
| Director | Juan J. Campanella |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Argentine director Juan Jose Campanella's Oscar-nominated film is a low-key comedy drama, enhanced by compelling performances from a gifted cast. Middle-aged Rafael Belvedere (Ricardo Darin) yearns for the carefree days of his boyhood, playing Zorro and watching old TV shows with his best friend, when any grief could be dispelled by a batch of his mother's fresh-baked biscuits. At age 42, Rafael is busy running the restaurant he inherited from his parents, successful but dissatisfied with his life. He can't come to terms with his once-vibrant mother's (Norma Aleandro) crippling Alzheimer's, and he feels overwhelmed when his ageing father (Hector Alterio) asks him to help arrange a second marriage ceremony to his wife of 44 years to give her the church wedding she had always wanted. After Rafael suffers a minor heart attack, he decides it's time for a change. He will sell the restaurant and retire to Mexico. This means abandoning not only his career, but his parents, his young daughter (Gimena Nobile), and his girlfriend (Natalia Verbeke). However, with the advice and counsel of his childhood friend, Juan Carlos (Eduardo Blanco), Rafael begins to realise that severing the ties that bind him to his loved ones might be harder than expected.
| Starring | Ricardo Darin, Hector Alterio, Norma Aleandro, Natalia Verbeke, Eduardo Blanco |
|---|---|
| Director | Juan J. Campanella |
| Studio | PATHE DISTRIBUTION |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 4 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Spanish |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 26 Apr 2004 Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
An acerbic allegory on millennial Argentina, this comedy is both a bustling ensemble piece and a thoughtful insight into one man's midlife nightmare. Beset by domestic conflicts and the prospect of losing the family restaurant to a soulless chain, Ricardo Darin (Nine Queens) is the victim of his own errors of judgement. But, with his father determined to renew his marital vows with a wife suffering from Alzheimer's, Darin's presented with an unexpected opportunity to atone for his past and seize his destiny. Expertly marshalling his cast and capturing Buenos Aires's urgent vibrancy, Juan José Campanella's satire is both amusing and astute.
Charming, witty and perceptive account of family relationships and disappointments; it is soft-centered without being sentimental and saves one of its best jokes for the end credits.
If you like films like Amelie, Il Postino or Rabitt proof fence, then this one is for you too.
This story takes place in Argentina, hence the language is Spanish, but don't let this deter you, this film is great is many ways. Photography and acting is superb, in particular the older couple. It is indeed loaded with sentimental stuff but it is also very funny. A gem from South America.
There is a 'hidden' scene halfway between the final credits, so don't cut them short.
A delightful and enjoyable journey with a family who eventually find a solution to their disorganized lives.