Valentin
2002
This heart-warmer concerns precocious eight-year-old Valentin (Rodrigo Noya), who lives alone with his grandmother in Buenos Aires in the early 1960s. Longing to be reunited with his absent mum, Valentin lives with his eccentric grandma (long-time Almodovar star Carmen Maura) and deals with the occasional visits from his .. Read more
| Starring | Carmen Maura, Rodrigo Noya, Julieta Cardinali |
|---|---|
| Director | Alejandro Agresti |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Valentin
This heart-warmer concerns precocious eight-year-old Valentin (Rodrigo Noya), who lives alone with his grandmother in Buenos Aires in the early 1960s. Longing to be reunited with his absent mum, Valentin lives with his eccentric grandma (long-time Almodovar star Carmen Maura) and deals with the occasional visits from his reprobate father (director Alejandro Agresti). For solace, Valentin visits a kindly musician (Mex Uritzberea) who urges the boy to hang on to his dream of becoming Argentina's first astronaut. Valentin also develops a bond with Leticia (Juliete Cardinali), one of his dad's young girlfriends. Noya plays his role like a pint-sized blend of Woody Allen, Nanni Moretti, and Audrey Tatou (AMELIE), replete with poignant optimism, wry commentary, and a cupid-like need to play matchmaker for the nicer adults in his life. As engaging as he is, the film gets stolen by the wonderful Cardinali (a TV star in Argentina) who radiates angelic warmth in her too-few scenes. Agresti suffuses the film with well-observed period detail that only hints at the political turmoil of the time (Argentina was in the grip of the infamous "reign of terror" throughout the '60s and '70s). VALENTIN is one of those films that manages to win a viewer's heart without pulling any harsh reality punches.
| Starring | Carmen Maura, Rodrigo Noya, Julieta Cardinali |
|---|---|
| Director | Alejandro Agresti |
| Studio | METRODOME DISTRIBUTION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 44 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Spanish |
| Released | DVD: 21 Jun 2004 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Argentinian director Alejandro Agresti draws on his own childhood memories for this delightful tale of a eight-year-old outsider discovering his place in a world that consistently bemuses him. Occasionally, the nuggets of insight contained in young Rodrigo Noya's narration don't chime with his presentation as a speccy, space-obsessed innocent who mooches round the backstreets of 1960s Buenos Aires torn between affection for the mother who abandoned him and loyalty towards his violent father Vicente (Agresti). But Noya's rapport with his grumbling grandmother (played by Carmen Maura) and his father's latest girlfriend (Julieta Cardinali) gives the film a genuine charm that is further enhanced by the gentle optimism of the unassuming ending.
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"...One of the most striking films you will see this year... A genuine, touching and beautiful story..."
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Most helpful member's review
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17 out of 20 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
unmemorable, literally
I started watching this when a couple of scenes seemed familiar and I realised I had seen it some time before and obviously it had made so little impact on me that I had forgotten and booked it now. Switched it off immediately.
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Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Moving
I loved this film. Valentin's acting is impeccable, a moving story seen through a boys large pair of glasses. It is heart warming, humorous and totally engaging.
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