Valentin

I've been sick with the flu the last while so I've just stayed home and have ended up watching a lot of movies. Last night I saw a real gem. It's a 2002 film called "Valentin" and comes from Argentina. Set in 1969, it's the story of an adorable little 9-year old boy who lives with his grandmother. Her husband had died a year before and his mother left him for reasons he's not quite sure. Together they make quite the pair.

Valentin's father is a traveling businessman who only visits occasionally but is much more preoccupied with his own selfish wants & desires than anything to do with his son. He reportedly brings more women home to meet his mother & son than horses going around a carousel! The film also features the beautiful Argentinian actress, Julieta Cardinali, who plays Leticia, an increasingly important figure in little Valentin's life.

But the star of the film is clearly Rodrigo Noya, who plays the lead character. In many ways he is 9 going on 89, but is still perplexed by why adults can't just get along. A sub-plot that is fascinating & hilarious to watch is Valentin's dogged pursuit to become an astronaut. In some ways there are some similarities in the humour to the French hit, Amelie, but the story is completely different; equally charming though!

Finally, the movie was directed by Alejandro Agresti who also directed "The Lake House", another film I really like.