Hijo de la novia, El (2001)

Director:

Juan José Campanella

Writers:

Juan José Campanella (writer)
Fernando Castets (writer)

Release Date:

16 August 2001 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Si la vida te paso de largo ¿ qué esperas para alcanzarla?

Plot:

At age 42, Rafael Belvedere is having a crisis. He lives in the shadow of his father, he feels guilty about rarely visiting his aging mother...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Restaurant | Character Study | Alzheimer's Disease | Divorce

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 26 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Ricardo Darín	...	Rafael Belvedere
Héctor Alterio	...	Nino Belvedere
Norma Aleandro	...	Norma Belvedere
Eduardo Blanco	...	Juan Carlos
Natalia Verbeke	...	Naty
Gimena Nóbile	...	Vicky
David Masajnik	...	Nacho
Claudia Fontán	...	Sandra
Atilio Pozzobon	...	Francesco
Salo Pasik	...	Daniel
Humberto Serrano	...	Padre Mario
Fabián Arenillas	...	Sciacalli
Mónica Cabrera	...	Carmen
Giorgio Bellora	...	Marchiolli
Mónica Virgilito	...	Enfermera hospital

Also Known As:

Son of the Bride (International: English title) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:13 | Austria:6 | Belgium:KT | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Denmark:7 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Mexico:B | Peru:14 | Poland:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

JEMPSA

Trivia:

In the scene in which Rafael discusses with his ex-wife, she replies at the chance of their daughter being in a school in Mexico: "Who will teach her? Professor Jirafales?" This is a direct reference to a Mexican TV show called "Chavo, El" (1973 ) which successfully stayed on air, in prime time, for more than a decade in Mexican television, as well as the rest of Latin America. (In the English subtitles of this scene, the wife says instead "Who will teach her? The Cisco Kid?")

Quotes:

Juan Carlos: Did you see "That Damned Rib"?
Rafael Belvedere: I don't watch Argentine movies. I work all day, you know how it is.
Juan Carlos: I don't watch Argentine reality.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002) (TV)

Classy A Hispanic feature

Great performers in an expertly mounted A feature. This one goes on too long but deserves to edge out the glossy English speaking movies which play to the same audience in the multiplexes.

The film is full of great players given the chance to do their stuff. Darin has the authority of a major leading man and it's a great pleasure to see already familiar veterans like Alterio and Aleandro in strong roles. Her spin on senility is a beautifully judged mix of touching and funny that the film needs to grab the broad public. Verbeke registers as an exceptionally vivid version of the sexy, winning fantasy girl that we keep on seeing in films.

If you want to argue that these characters are a distortion of real life you're in a different mind set to the makers and the fourteen dollars a seat customers they are playing to.

I enjoyed seeing this recognisable world of cell 'phones, old friends, resolved family tensions and gourmet food put across in an unfamiliar setting with superior film know how. It's like a good overseas holiday. The old Sascha Guitry gag of the security system picture or the finding the priest at the final wedding were worth the cheer they got at the performance I saw.