A Red Bear (film)
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| Red Bear | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Israel Adrián Caetano |
| Produced by | Lita Stantic |
| Written by | Screenplay: Israel Adrián Caetano Graciela Speranza Story: Romina Lafranchini |
| Starring | Julio Chávez Soledad Villamil Luis Machín Agostina Lage |
| Music by | Mariano Barrella Diego Grimblat |
| Cinematography | Willi Behnisch |
| Editing by | Santiago Ricci |
| Distributed by | Production: Lita Stantic Producciones Distribution: Cinema Tropical |
| Release date(s) | Argentina: October 3, 2002 United States: January 17, 2003 |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | Argentina France Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
| Official website | |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Red Bear (Spanish: Un Oso rojo.) is an Argentine, Spanish, and French film released in 2002, directed by Israel Adrián Caetano.[1]
The film was produced by Lita Stantic, and the screenplay was written by Caetano and Graciela Speranza, from the story penned by Romina Lafranchini.
The picture stars Julio Chávez, Soledad Villamil, Luis Machín, Agostina Lage, and others.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film tells the story of Oso (Julio Chávez) who's sent to prison for a robbery and a murder.
After seven years Oso is released and we see in flashback the robbery that led to his arrest. The day of the robbery was his daughter's, Alicia (Agostina Lage), one year birthday. As a consequence, Alicia never got a chance to get to know her father Oso and grows up resentful.
Oso returns to his hometown, a depressed suburb of Buenos Aires, fully aware that his wife, Natalia (Soledad Villamil), is living with another man, Sergio (Luis Machín).
Yet, Oso is determined to establish a relationship with Alicia, and collect money owed him by a sleezy crime boss known as the Turk (René Lavand).
In the mean time the Turk wants Oso to be the getaway driver on one last big job.
For her part, Alicia seems fascinated with her father and makes him promise never to go away again.
[edit] Exhibition
The film was first featured at the Cannes Film Festival in May 23, 2002. It opened in Argentina on October 3, 2002, making the picture Caetano's second film that opened in Argentina in 2002 (the last was Bolivia in April).
The film was also shown at various film festivals, including: the Gothenburg Film Festival, Sweden; the Havana Film Festival, Cuba; the Latin America Film Festival, Poland; the Lleida Latin-American Film Festival, Spain; the Cartagena Film Festival, Colombia; the Film by the Sea Film Festival, Netherlands; and the Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland.
In the United States the picture opened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2003. It also screened at the New Directors/New Films Film Festival, New York in March 2003; and the Milwaukee International Film Festival and Los Angeles in October 2004.
[edit] Critical reception
Reviews of the film were generally good. Film critic Neil Young thought the film was an engaging mix of crime thriller and family drama. He wrote, "[The film] is nevertheless an effective, if minor, foray into a dusty, neglected corner of modern-day Buenos Aires. We can feel Argentina's well-documented financial problems starting to sour the whole country's atmosphere, exerting unbearable pressures on the likes of Sergio, Oso and Natalia." Young also though director Caetano elicited solid work from his actors.[2]
A.O. Scott, writing for the New York Times, said, "Its combination of toughness and smooth, understated style makes it touching and absorbing..."[3]
And journalist Diego Batlle, who writes for the Spanish daily La Nación said, "A Red Bear imposes itself as a piece of great dramatic power that ratifies a prolific director's narrative talent."[4]
[edit] Cast and ratings
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Argentina: | 13 |
| France: | U |
| Spain: | 13 |
- Julio Chávez as Oso
- Soledad Villamil as Natalia
- Luis Machín as Sergio
- Agostina Lage as Alicia
- Enrique Liporace as Güemes
- René Lavand as Turco
- Daniel Valenzuela as Alfarito
- Freddy Flores as Tuerca
[edit] Awards
Wins
- Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor Award; Best Actor, Julio Chávez; 2003.
- Lleida Latin-American Film Festival: Best Actor, Julio Chávez; 2003.
- Havana Film Festival: Best Music, Diego Grimblat; Special Jury Prize, Adrián Caetano; Special Mention, Lita Stantic; 2002.
Nominations
- Cartagena Film Festival: Golden India Catalina; Best Film, Adrián Caetano; 2004.
- Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor Award; Best Actress, Soledad Villamil; Best Art Direction, Graciela Oderigo; Best Cinematography, Willi Behnisch; Best Director, Adrián Caetano; Best Editing, Santiago Ricci; Best Film; Best Music, Diego Grimblat; Best New Actor, René Lavan; Best New Actress, Agostina Lage; Best Original Screenplay, Adrián Caetano and Gabriela Speranza; Best Sound, Marcos De Aguirre; 2003.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Red Bear at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Young, Neil. Jigsaw Lounge, film review from the Edinburgh Film Festival, September 19, 2002.
- ^ Scott, A.O. New York Times, "Out of Jail, In Search Of Someone To Protect," film review from the New Directors/New Films Film Festival, March 31, 2003.
- ^ Batlle, Diego. La Nación, "Logrado western urbano de Caetano," film review, October 3, 2002.(Spanish)
[edit] External links
- Red Bear at Rotten Tomatoes.
- Red Bear at cinenacional.com (Spanish).
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