# The Mud Boy

The Mud Boy (Spanish: El niño de barro) is a 2007 Spanish-Argentine thriller drama film directed by Jorge Algora [es] which stars Maribel Verdú, Daniel Freire, Chete Lera, and Juan Ciancio.

## Plot

Set in 1912 Buenos Aires against the backdrop of the story of the Petiso Orejudo serial killer, the plot tracks 10-year-old boy Mateo, haunted by nightmares, and the main suspect behind a trail of brutal killings in the city.

## Cast

* Maribel Verdú as Estela
* Chete Lera as Dr. Soria
* Daniel Freire as Comisario Petrie
* Juan Ciancio as Mateo
* César Bordón [es] as Octavio
* Abel Ayala [es] as Cayetano
* Sergio Boris as Subinspector Palacios

## Production

A Spanish-Argentine co-production, the film was produced by Adivina Producciones, Iroko Films, Castelao Producciones and Televisión de Galicia, Patagonik and Pol-ka, with backing from INCAA and ICAA. The film was shot in Argentina.

## Release

The film was released theatrically in Spain on 18 May 2007. Distributed by Buena Vista, the opening in Argentine theatres was scheduled for 6 September 2007.

## Reception

Juan Pablo Cinelli of Página/12 assessed that Algora is right to opt for fiction rather than documentary accuracy.
Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that "the excesses of the story are reined in by intelligent treatment, with thoughtful perfs, fine period atmospherics and a well-achieved sense of dread making up for occasionally clunky direction and loose scripting".
Parana Sendrós of Ámbito Financiero deemed the film to be worth your time, considering that the balance is positive "due to the way [the film] is made, the intelligence with which it tells the story, and the light it sheds on the always current issue of the treatment of children".

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2008 | 22nd Goya Awards | Best Original Song | "Pequeño paria" by Daniel Melingo | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Director | Jorge Algora | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Screenplay | Jorge Algora, Christian Busquier, Héctor Carré | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actress | Maribel Verdú | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Chete Lera | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Daniel Freire | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Actor | Juan Ciancio | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Abel Ayala | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Production Supervision | Eduard Vallés, Juan Lovece | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Cinematography | Suso Bello | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Editing | Rita Romero | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Music | Nani García | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Makeup and Hairstyles | Beata Wojtowicz | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Costume Design | Cecilia Monti | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Art Direction | Mariela Rípodas | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Sound | Perfecto de San José Prieto, Alberto Suárez | Nominated |