Valentín
Tags: allegory, comedy, boring

Plot synopsis:
The story takes place in 1969 and is told through the eyes of Valentín, an eight-year-old small cross-eyed boy (Noya) whose thick black-rimmed glasses sit heavily on his face. He lives with his grandmother (Maura) due to the divorce of his parents. He dreams of being an astronaut one day and intently follows the on-going space race between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union. He no longer sees his Jewish mother, who was chased out of the family home by his imperious, dictator-like father (Agresti). He misses her badly but hardly remembers her. His anti-Semitic father only occasionally visits to his mother and son, preferring to live the life of an Argentine playboy.
Valentín is friends with his uncle Chiche (Jean Pierre Noher) and the piano teacher Rufo who lives across the street (Mex Urtizberea). Both talk to Valentín as if he were an adult, and it seems Valentín is wise beyond his years. His uncle takes him to mass and where a priest (Fabián Vena) talks about the death of an Argentinian doctor who was killed recently. He talks about Che Guevara as a man "who believed in an ideal, and who believed that injustice could be overcome. Please, don't leave here before you've asked yourselves, in all sincerity: Who of you would give, not his whole life, but a year or even just one day, for an ideal, the way that Che gave all he had?". Many in the audience walk out and Valentín comments: "But just like my uncle said, the priest couldn't change anything. Everything stayed the same".
Leticia (Julieta Cardinali), his father's latest romantic interest, pays a visit and both she and Valentin spend the day together going to the park, seeing a movie and sharing a meal. Valentín tells her personal things about his life and father. Due to Valentín's tales about his family, Leticia rethinks her relationship with his father and breaks up with him. His father is quite upset and blames Valentín.
One day Valentín realizes that his grandmother is ill but refuses to see a doctor. Valentín makes plans on how to get her to see Dr. Galaburri (Carlos Roffé). The plan he cooks up seems to work and she makes certain lifestyle changes. To thank the doctor, Valentín is thoughtful and buys a painting for Dr. Galaburri to display in his office. However, one day his grandmother passes away when she goes to the hospital and Valentin comes to stay with one of his friends from school.
One day a thoughtful man visits Valentín and gives him a shirt that his mother sent for him. They have a conversation about his mother and Valentín begins to understand why his mother has stayed away for such a long time. The film ends as he sets up a blind date between Leticia and his piano teacher Rufo. They all have a meal together and Valentín tells us he decided to become a writer and that Leticia and Rufo lived happily ever after.

Review: Valentin is one cute, smart-mouthed kid.
Valentin is the Amelie Poulin of the Latin younger set, and just as adorable as Kolya, the Cinema Paradiso kid, and the Life is Beautiful kid.
No one knows about it, but many would enjoy this very charming, warm-hearted movie, that reminds us of the innocence of our own youth and how we tried to decipher and improve the world in our own small way..
Hollywood filmmakers could learn plenty from this marvelous little film from Argentina.Rodrigo Noya is utterly charming and captivating as the title character, a 9-year-old boy who builds stuff for astronauts and whose attitude toward life and love is more adult than many of the adults in his life, including his father.Director Alejandro Agresti's script is clever, humorous and poignant, yet, never becomes maudlin.
A Hollywood film most likely would have milked that scene dry with a melodramatic score and character histrionics."Valentín" is a celebration of childhood innocence.
But it's also about how lessons learned as a young boy shape the adult man he is to become.
For instance, Valentin's scenes with Leticia are funny because of the way the two actors play the scenes so naturally, their dialogue and actions make perfect sense.
Or, listen to the conversation between Valentin and his neighbor when they discuss the neighbor's ex-girlfriend over a cup of tea.And the film's ending?
This is one of the very few movies I really love these past couple of years.
Rodrigo Noya's Valentin is such a smart, funny and sad 8 year old boy.
He's like the old lady who lives alone and says she doesn't mind being alone but asks you to stay a little longer because she's baked dozens of cookies which nobody will eat.
The adults around him all act selfishly, but it's so realistic because we all are self-centered beings, and children sometimes are just treated like things that happened to be there.
I love this movie so much I am recommending it to every people I know..
A Sweet, Cute and Delightful Tale of a Young Negotiator That Wanted to Be an Astronaut.
On 1969, in Argentina, the eight years old Valentin (Rodrigo Noya) is a boy that dreams to be an astronaut.
The smart, but needy kid missed his mother, and when his father introduces his new girlfriend Leticia (Julieta Cardinali), Valentin has a strong connection with her.
Meanwhile his grandmother gets sick, and the boy tries to resolve all his family problems using his persuasion and viewpoint of life.
"Valentine" is a sweet, cute and delightful tale of a young negotiator that wanted to be an astronaut.
I am not sure whether Rodrigo Noya is a great actor or not, but in this particular and peculiar role he is simply amazing.
This movie was one of the greatest good surprises for me and I really loved it.
The scene of Valentin negotiating with the doctor in the hospital to see his grandmother in the market is one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in cinema.
Valentin is an eight year old who dreams of one day being an astronaut.
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.
Why is it so hard to find a movie like this?
I didn't suspect this movie to be good, because the dutch producer Laurens Geels produced it and I usually don't like his films.
The whole film has this brilliant feel-good-movie athmosphere...and you just don't want this film to end.
Rodrigo Noya is one of the most brilliant young actors among us, I was totally crazy about his character.
Great performance by young Rodrigo Noya..
Little Rodrigo Noya fulfills his task completely, carrying this movie all by himself.
He plays an 8-year-old boy, raised by his grandmother, surrounded by problems in his family he finds only himself capable of solving.Dutch Art Director Floris Vos performs great, creating the perfect setting for this film in '70 Argentina..
Valentin, the young boy living in the Buenos Aires of the sixties, is a kid that is more mature than what his tender age shows.
Yet, the grandmother is a loving woman that cares intensely for her little charge.
It's never clear what happened between the parents, but it appears Valentin's mother was abused by the womanizer husband.Alejandro Agresti's film, which he also wrote, was shown briefly in a commercial run here, but disappeared quickly, so we never got around to it.
It came as a total surprise when it was shown in one of the cable channels in its original version.The film is worth seeing because of Rodrigo Noya, the sweet Valentin of the film.
Valentin is the narrator of the story.
This young actor made an excellent contribution to the film without ever being bratty.
Our hearts go to the poor little boy that fate has abandoned and is even lonelier after the sudden death of the grandmother.Carmen Maura, as the grandmother, is a joy to watch.
Julieta Cardinali is seen briefly as Leticia, a beautiful blonde woman who Valentin would like to be his new mother, hoping his father will marry her.
When the relationship ends, Valentin is miserable, but Leticia, seeing the goodness and loneliness of the young boy stays by him.
wonderful film & ms carmen maura's performance transcendent.
firstly, this is a film rather than a movie; therefore, it appears that the objective is more to offer a discrete perspective to the viewer -- if one is interested in plots twists, car chases or other movie ' magic', it is perhaps advisable to look elsewherehowever, if one wishes to experiences what has to be universally fine acting -- especially by the always pitch-perfect ms carmen maura in a performance which may be surely described as Oscar-worthy -- a compelling study in inter- /intra-personal relationships and an opportunity to see the world differently after viewing : decease looking & enjoy what has become one of my favorite filmslacking experience or credentials in film criticism, i refrain from attempting to offer pretentious pseudo-critique; that being stated, just one of the aspects of the film i appreciated was a presentation of the heretofore little known personally topic of Argentinian jewryfurther, this film elicited empathy for ostensibly unsympathetic characters reminding one that ' walking a mile in the shoes ' of others is still perhaps the best way to understand them.
The child was brilliant...all performances were credible/believable...It was a realistic film in representing life and the simple joys and sorrows we all experience in one degree or another.
on the cd The interview from the director was also enlightening...on argentina, life love and more.
Anyhoo...enjoy...when a good hearted film is what your in the mood for..
Ususally I do not see a lot of movies from Argentina because they are, usually, very drama centered.
Here is a movie that can not only be enjoyed by the whole family, it is a true pleasure to watch.
Valentin goes highly recommended to everyone young and old.Actors, writers and directors did a job on this movie that can be compared with their highest counterparts anywhere in the world.
High mention also goes to the actress who played his grandmother and Rufo, the pianist neighbor as well as the girl who played his father's girlfriend and ends up with Rufo at the end.
Yes, the movie has drama but it has comedy, a great story and ends up in a very High note.
Great Kid Friendly International Movie.
Great Movie to watch with the kids and expose them to the world of International Film.
Movie about a kid being raised by his grandmother in the late 60's in Argentina and dreaming of being an Astronaut and meeting his mom some day.
If we are honest, like Valentin, we will realize that we are all just searching for love.
Valentin is just an average kid with his own quirks, looking for love and answers.
Although his movie is funny it also has some sad moments.
We need more movies like this!.
If you ever watched "The Wonder Years" and enjoyed the combination of youth and wisdom you will enjoy this movie, set in 1969.
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.
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.
Valentin is the story of a 9 year old Argentinian boy who lives with his grandmother.
Valentin plays cupid and hopes that his father marries the young woman he becomes in love with and spends a day.
Valentin's father is played by the film's director and screenwriter.
The entire cast especially Valentin performed excellently in this film.
We heard that a girl looking for an honest man Romance.The child Valentín looking for Mama blonde and beautiful.!!?Something strange and wondrous....And nice to see the story written and give it the creative director Alejandro Agresti.Summit in creative fiction.
Left their son live with his grandfather the old Sympathize with the child in the first scene.After watching this movie I love watch movies from Argentina.Do not miss the viewMagician.
How kids like this can act so well?
I was a little surprised to see this film categorised as "comedy".
Must see movie of the year.
Director and writer Alejandro Agrestis' Valentin is a perfect jewel of a movie.
Right from the very start you are pulled into the ordinary yet extraordinary world of Valentin (an incredible performance by Rodrigo Noya).
As the story takes you along, you  almost feel as if you are eavesdropping on his family life as he tries to make sense out of a world where "grown ups never tell the truth" .
He lives with his grandmother who is "always complaining about something" while he tries to find ways to assemble and make some sort of sense of his family life.
Valentin however also makes time for his own childhood dreams in many charming, funny moments as an aspiring astronaut.
We see the relationships of his dysfunctional family and how he always questions why, he simply wants to live a normal, happy life, isn't that how it's supposed to be?
Along the way he befriends a offbeat neighbor who likes to drink and attempt to play the piano, a girlfriend of his fathers, and a resourceful bit with a doctor.
The camera always takes its time, lingering on the story and the characters just long enough to pull you in and make you feel a part of it, this is the director at his best, a fabulous cast and crew, a from the heart story, and of course, Valentin....
Valentín is a young boy living in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with his grandmother in a very simple home.
Throughout the movie we follow Valentín's life and go through all the struggles he goes through whilst being in the middle of a broken family whom he wishes could reunite and treat him right.
What I mean to say is that the different aspects of life in Argentina during the 60s, when the story took place, are quite accurate and very well displayed.
Moreover, being that Agresti was telling a story about his childhood, he was able to create a very personable story which speaks a large sum to the audience about a boy's day to day life back then.
This wonderful story is told through a very simple plot and has no need for extravagant Hollywood techniques as its simplicity makes it so much more personable, clever, and enjoyable..
Seeing the trailer for "Valentin" multiple times at my local art house theater in Oregon I was reminded of "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," an old American television series that starred Bill Bixby as widower father whose adorable seven-year-old son was determined to find a mother by marrying Dad off.Valentin, played by the cross-eyed eight-year-old Rodrigo Noya, is just as adorable as child actor Brandon Cruz was in the American show.
And like Eddie, Valentin has a colorful mother figure, a grandmother played by Carmen Maura.
-- as we watch him try to cement his Dad's engagement to Leticia, a new girlfriend played by the gorgeous Julieta Cardinali, this movie isn't the heartwarming comedy the trailer promises.
So be prepared for some dark moments as you watch Valentin fulfill his promise as a matchmaker.Nonetheless, this movie has its appeal, especially I imagine for Argentines who were children in 1969 Buenos Aires where the story is set.
In fact, the city often looks, well, just plain cute, as spotless vintage cars glide in and out of the background while actors dressed in the styles of the period go about their jobs.Watching the charming and nostalgic "Valentin", it's no wonder that director Agresti says in an interview on the movie's DVD that many Argentines of a certain age  especially given the troubled times that befell the country in the 1970s and 1980s  consider 1969 "the country's last good year." 7/10.
Appended to the fact that there is no plot and is merely one twee scene followed by another makes this a very disappointing experience.
Surely, we must evolve beyond the cute kid being cute kind of movie.
How about some realism rather than just aiming for the tear-jerking (or giggling hysterically, if you're me) moments of cute kid trying to survive in a world of ignorant adults.
Eight year old Valentín lives alone with his grandmother and is obsessed with being an astronaut.
His womanizing absent anti-Semitic father Vincent brings home beautiful young girlfriend Leticia.
Leticia is shocked by some of Valentin's innocent comments about his father and she breaks up with him.The cross-eyed kid is really cute.
I don't want to be too negative about any part of the movie because the kid is so adorably effective.
Valentin is about the most manipulative and cloyingly 'cute' movie that I have seen in a very long time.
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.
Not even Carmen Maura's fine performance as young Valentin's grandmother can save the film.
I loved this movie, and also, I love the music from the film.
Particularly the song Valentin is shout-singing when his Uncle arrives, and some of the songs that play in scenes with Leticia.Please and thank you!.
South American Amelie like movie.
I think it is the best feel good movie since Amelie.
A must see movie for everyone that likes Amelie..
Good movie.
Overall, this is a good movie, but just so..
I can't say I didn't enjoy the hilarious adventures of a young Argentinian boy who at times acted more like an adult than the 8 year-old child he was supposed to be.
At some point I only wanted this film to end.
The director uses sort of a "Cinema Paradiso" formula (and I didn't like that movie at all, even though it was revered at school).
But to me, just seeing Cinema Paradiso all over again is not my kind of movie outing..
Through the Eyes of a Precocious Little Boy. The world, as seen from the very adult eyes and precocious mind of Valentin, an 8-year old boy living with grandmother (Carmen Maura) while his father goes from girlfriend to girlfriend, can be a somewhat alienating place.
Especially when the grandmother constantly talks to herself and complains about everything around her and his father is barely there.
He's aware that his grandmother, despite her abrasive temper, loves him, but she's not a real mother to him.
His mother, as Valentin has been told, ran off with someone else and will not see him.
Valentin, despite being surrounded by negative energy, is quite resilient in the way not many children may be.
It's as if Agresti wanted to really focus in on this particular moment in time when everything seemed perfect...
All he wants is the love of a mother.VALENTIN boasts the presence of Carmen Maura, an Almodovar veteran.
She is not a one-note crusty old lady: one scene tells pages of who she is, who she was, and how deeply she misses the man of her life.
He is a man who no one wants to mess with because his temper is out the window, and later revelations from Leticia and a crucial character Valentin meets near the end of the film point at his abusive, possibly even psychotic nature.The young actor playing Valentin, however, is an inspired choice.
More so in a time when child actors tend to read their lines instead of actually feeling them, Rodrigo Noya, virtually a stand-in for Agresti himself, may not know the realities of acting at a technical level, but he plays his part with maturity, and his reactions never border on cute.
His rendition of Valentin is that of a boy who knows what he wants to be when he grows up, one who wants to solve people's problems and make things better (even when this may bring his into trouble), but one who isn't quite aware of people's prejudices as with the Anti-Semitism that pervades throughout some of the story's characters.It's a good move for Agresti to not move into explaining certain details of the plot's resolution.
(In this respect it pays to know Spanish and read between the lines.) Valentin's quest for a mother ends more than satisfying, and even when his destiny seems to be unclear, his omniscient narration leads the audience to understand that things will be better for him.