Valentin (2002)

Valentin is the story of a 9 year old Argentinian boy who lives with his grandmother. His mother is off and his father isn't always around. Grandma is there for the boy and cares for him in 1969 before somebody landed on the moon. Valentin dreams of being on the moon. The film's art direction and mood is very 1969. Valentin plays cupid and hopes that his father marries the young woman he becomes in love with and spends a day. Reality steps in and life isn't always ideal in the end. Valentin's father is played by the film's director and screenwriter. He does a great job in the role. The entire cast especially Valentin performed excellently in this film. The young actor does a fantastic award winning job in this difficult leading role.

If you ever watched "The Wonder Years" and enjoyed the combination of youth and wisdom you will enjoy this movie, set in 1969. The child actor is fabulous and endears himself and his character immediately. Combining child p.o.v. with the hind-sight of adult understanding and narration (in a child's voice) the film achieves great realness. Based on the real-life story of the director/writer, it's wonderfully nostalgic and yet powerfully cathartic. If you never cry or laugh during this film, please see a doctor as your heart may be already stopped. But it isn't over-sentimentalized or trivialized at all. Quite the opposite, it's the story of agonizing loss borne with true emotional strength. Filmed in Argentina, it takes you on a trip to another time and place all the while telling the timeless tale of a child's unending capacity to love. Moving, important and true. Highly recommended.

Valentin is an eight year old who dreams of one day being an astronaut. This is the late sixties just before man landed on the moon. He lives with his grandmother. Occasionally he gets a visit from his father but he never gets to see his mother. There's also an uncle, a friendly musician and a soon to be ex-girlfriend of his father's. This is Valentin's world and like that other famous eight year old Lisa Simpson he's more wiser than they are. It may not be that original but 'Valentin' is a very sweet and lovely film perfectly judged and satisfyingly told, and the conclusion will leave you moist-eyed. (8/10)

Valentin is about the most manipulative and cloyingly 'cute' movie that I have seen in a very long time. Think of it as 'Pollyanna' for the over 11s. If you feel that you can endure a cross-eyed, doe-eyed kid turning on the cute button to maximum for 95 minutes, then maybe it's the movie for you. This is no 'Cinema Paradiso' (though it obviously thinks it is), merely an exercise in forcing otherwise sane adults to observe children through rose-tinted specs. Not even Carmen Maura's fine performance as young Valentin's grandmother can save the film. Pass the sick-bucket, someone?