Intimate Stories

Infobox Film
name = Historias mínimas


image_size =
caption = Theatrical Poster
director = Carlos Sorín
producer = Martin Bardi
writer = Pablo Solarz
narrator =
starring = Javier Lombardo Antonio Benedicti Javiera Bravo
music = Nicolás Sorín
cinematography = Hugo Colace
editing = Mohamed Rajid
distributor = Guacamole Films
released = Spain: September 26, 2002 Argentina: October 24, 2002 United States: January, 2003
runtime = 92 minutes
country = Argentina Spain
language = Spanish
budget =
website =
amg_id = 1:275241
imdb_id = 291988|

"Historias mínimas" (English: "Minimal Stories" and "Intimate Stories") (2002) is an Argentine and Spanish drama film, directed by Carlos Sorín, and written by Pablo Solarz. The film was produced by Martin Bardi, Leticia Cristi, and José María Morales. It features Javier Lombardo, Antonio Benedicti, Javiera Bravo, among others. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291988/ "Historias mínimas"] at the Internet Movie Database.]

This road movie chronicles a trio of separate, yet, interweaving stories of ordinary people attempting to follow their dreams in life.

The picture unfolds in the southern Argentine region of Patagonia and was filmed in Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina.

Plot

The film follows the journeys of three people traveling to the small city of San Julián, Argentina.

Don Justo (Antonio Benedicti) hands over the running of his grocery store to his overbearing son and daughter-in-law and escapes to search for his lost dog Badface.

Roberto (Javier Lombardo) is a love-struck obsessive-compulsive traveling salesman who travels to San Julián to surprise one of his clients by bringing a cake for her son's birthday.

And María Flores (Javiera Bravo) travels to San Julián with her daughter because she's won a spot on "Multicoloured Casino," a television game show.

The film captures a lot of small details, making it a realistic and moving portrait of life in the south of Argentina.

Background

Casting

Sorín in neo-realist fashion, used mainly non-professional actors. The only professional actor in the cast was Roberto (Javier Lombardo).

Cast

* Javier Lombardo as Roberto
* Antonio Benedicti as Don Justo Benedictis
* Javiera Bravo as María Flores
* Julia Solomonoff as Julia
* Laura Vagnoni as Estela
* Enrique Otranto as Carlos
* Mariela Díaz as María's friend
* María Rosa Cianferoni as Ana
* María del Carmen Jiménez as Female Baker
* César García as García
* Armando Grimaldi as El mesero
* Mario Splanguño as Panadero
* Rosa Valsecchi as Panadera #2
* Aníbal Maldonado as Fermín

Distribution

The film was first presented at the Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival, Spain on September 26, 2002. It opened in Argentina on October 24, 2002.

It was featured in various film festivals, including: the International Film Festival, Rotterdam; the Latin America Film Festival, Poland; the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Czech Republic; the Copenhagen International Film Festival, Denmark; the Bergen International Film Festival, Norway; the Spanish Film Festival, Philippines; Havana Film Festival, Cuba; the Cartagena Film Festival, Colombia; the Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival, Portugal; the Freiberg International Film Festival, Switzerland; the Tromsø International Film Festival, Norway; and the Uruguay International Film Festival, Uruguay.

In the United States it appeared at the Sundance Film Festival in January, 2003, and opened in New York on March 4, 2005.

Critical reception

Tom Dawson, film critic for the BBC wrote, "Patagonian landscapes with the modesty of his characters' aspirations, Sorín has crafted an appealing portrait of this remote region, where television provides the inhabitants with their main link to the wider world. Convincingly acted by the mainly non-professional cast, "Historias mínimas" is further proof of the diversity and strength of contemporary Argentine cinema." [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/22/historias_minimas_2003_review.shtml Dawson, Tom] . "BBC," film review, July 22, 2003.]

Ed Gonzales, critic for "Slant Magazine," liked Carlos Sorín's directorial work and the film reminded him of well regarded American directors, and wrote, "It's the film's crisscrossing narrative and sense of community that brings to mind Altman's "Short Cuts," but the pursuit of enlightenment and the poetic texture of Sorín's images similarly evokes Lynch's "The Straight Story." Quiet and unpretentious, the film's humanism isn't confrontational exactly but it's intense nonetheless." [ [http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=1224 Gonzales, Ed] . "Slant Magazine," film review, 2004.]

Awards

Wins
* Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival: FIPRESCI Prize - Special Mention (Carlos Sorín); SIGNIS Award - Special Mention (Carlos Sorín); and Special Prize of the Jury (Carlos Sorín); 2002.
* Havana Film Festival: Grand Coral - Second Prize (Carlos Sorín); Martin Luther King Memorial Center Award (Carlos Sorín); 2002.
* Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor for best director (Carlos Sorín); Best Film; Best Music (Nicolás Sorín); Best Male (Antonio Benedicti); Best Original Script (Pablo Solarz); Best Artistic Direction (Margarita Jusid); Best Cinematography (Hugo Colace); and Best Sound (Carlos Abbate and José Luis Díaz); 2003.
* Cartagena Film Festival: Special Jury Prize (Carlos Sorín); 2003.
* Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival: Golden Dolphin (Carlos Sorín); 2003.
* Freiberg International Film Festival: "Grand Prix" (Carlos Sorín); 2003.
* Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival: Best Film; 2003.
* Tromsø International Film Festival: Aurora Award - Special Mention (Carlos Sorín); 2003.
* Uruguay International Film Festival: Best Film; 2003.
* Uruguayan Film Critics Association Awards 2003: Best Latinamerican film; 2003.
* Goya Awards: Best foreign Spanish language film; 2004.

Nominations
* San Sebastián International Film Festival: Golden Seashell, Carlos Sorín; 2002.
* Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor, Best Editing, Mohamed Rajid; Best New Actress, Javiera Bravo; Best New Actress, Julia Solomonoff; Best Supporting Actor, Javier Lombardo; 2003.
* Cartagena Film Festival: Golden India Catalina, Best Film, Carlos Sorín; 2003.
* Ariel Awards, Mexico: Silver Ariel, Best Latin-American Film, Carlos Sorín, Argentina; 2004.

References

External links

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* [http://www.cinenacional.com/peliculas/index.php?pelicula=2797 "Historias mínimas"] at the cinenacional.com sp icon