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MovieMail's Review
Do you like films where nothing much happens? Do you like films where much of what happens happens before the film starts or off-screen? Do you like films with a cute kid struggling to survive in and understand the cold realities of adult life, while delivering deep insights via a voice over? If so this film is for you. Quiet, gentle, understated, cute.
The title character of Valentin is a precocious ten-year old who lives with his grandmother in 1960s Argentina. As he struggles with a severe squint and dreams of beco... more >
The title character of Valentin is a precocious ten-year old who lives with his grandmother in 1960s Argentina. As he struggles with a severe squint and dreams of becoming an astronaut, he observes the eccentric (to him) behaviour of his friends and relatives. Valentin is alternatively amused and exasperated by the grown-ups’ apparent inability to function as mature adults, and he decides to take matters into his own hands.
Valentin boasts an astonishing central performance from young Rodrigo Noya. As the eponymous hero, Noya is both funny and affecting as he candidly voices his frustrations regarding the adults around him. Whilst many children in American cinema try too hard to be cute and lovable, removing a degree of audience empathy through their manipulative performances, Noya skillfully blends a naturalistic performance with flashes of stylised wit, as he addresses the camera to voice his feelings.
Almodovar favourite Carmen Maura is also superb as Valentin’s acerbic grandmother. The scenes between the two strong-minded characters recall Walter Salles’ marvellous Central Station, as scenes of conflict are swiftly followed by moments of warmth and grudging affection. The tartness of their relationship keeps potentially mawkish sentimentality at bay. There is also fine acting from the film’s director, Alejandro Agresti, who plays Valentin’s selfish, irresponsible father.
Ignore the American advertising which lumbered this captivating film with the nauseating (and misleading) tagline “Cupid just turned eight”; Valentin will enchant anyone who admires quality childhood dramas such as Cinema Paradiso, and by the film’s ending it is difficult not to be won over by the joyous optimism of the young protagonist.
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