The Other (2007 film)

Infobox Film
name = El otro


image_size = 240
caption = Theatrical Poster
director = Ariel Rotter
producer = Executive Producer: Verónica Cura Producers: Enrique Piñeyro Christian Baute
writer = Ariel Rotter
narrator =
starring = Julio Chávez Inés Molina María Ucedo Arturo Goetz
music =
cinematography = Marcelo Lavintman
editing = Eliane Katz
distributor = Aqua Films
released = Germany: February 13, 2007
runtime = 83 minutes
country = Argentina
France
Germany
language = Spanish
budget =
website = http://www.aquafilms.com.ar/ingles/films_elotro_ing.html
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0499540

"El otro" (English: "The Other") (2007) is an Argentine, French, and German drama film, written and directed by Ariel Rotter, his second feature. [imdb title|id=0499540|title=El otro]

The film was executive produced by Aqua Films' Verónica Cura, and produced by Enrique Piñeyro and Christian Baute.

"El otro" was funded by the "Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales" (Argentina), the Vision Sudest Fund (Switzerland), the World Cinema Fund (Berlin International Film Festival), and the Hubert Bals Fund (Netherlands). [ [http://www.berlin.de/english/berlinale/competition/the_other.html Berlinale] film festival web site, 2007.]

The picture features Julio Chávez as Juan Desouza, who was awarded the Silver Bear as Best Actor at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.

Plot

The film tells of Juan Desouza (Julio Chávez), a lawyer in his late 40s, who's happily married and his wife is expecting a child.

On a one-day business trip to the country-side, Desouza embarks on an unintended journey. When he reaches his destination Desouza discovers that the man traveling next to him is not sleeping but dead.

Secretly, he assumes the dead man's identity and invents a profession for himself. He finds a place to stay in the village where the man used to live and contemplates not returning.

Juan Desouza undertakes an adventure into nature, into the rediscovery of his tastes and his basic instincts. He tries to grasp the idea that the life dealt out for him, and which he chose to live, is not the only one possible.

He eventually goes back home, stronger from the spiritual experience.

Cast

* Julio Chávez as Juan Desouza
* María Onetto
* María Ucedo
* Inés Molina
* Arturo Goetz
* Osvaldo Bonet

Distribution

The film was first presented at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2007.

Critical reception

The film was well received at the Berlin International Film Festival winning a Jury "Grand Prix" Silver Bear.

Film critic Annika Pham, who writes for "CineEuropa", liked the film, and wrote, "The film subtly explores the apprehension of death as well as the palpable yet invisible world that lurks underneath the surface. Few words are needed. We feel with Juan and easily relate to him. The scenes where he cares for his father, becoming his father’s father, are particularly moving." [ [http://cineuropa.org/newsdetail.aspx?lang=en&documentID=73132 Pham, Annika] . "CineEuropa", film review, February 13, 2007.]

Awards

Wins
* Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Bear, The Jury "Grand Prix"; Silver Bear, Best Actor, Julio Chávez; 2007.

Footnotes

External links

*.
* [http://www.cinenacional.com/peliculas/index.php?pelicula=3934 "El otro"] at cinenacional.com sp icon.