El Camino de San Diego

Infobox Film
name = El camino de San Diego


image_size =
caption = Theatrical poster
director = Carlos Sorín
producer = Óscar Kramer
Hugo Sigman
Carlos Sorín
writer = Carlos Sorín
narrator =
starring = Ignacio Benítez
Carlos Wagner
music = Nicolás Sorín
cinematography = Hugo Colace
editing = Mohamed Rajid
distributor = Guacamole Films
released = September 14, 2006
runtime = 98 minutes
country = Argentina
language = Spanish
budget =
website = http://www.elcaminodesandiego.com/
amg_id = 1:375251
imdb_id = 0865438

"El camino de San Diego" (English: "The Road to San Diego") (2006) is an Argentine comedy film, written and directed by Carlos Sorín. The film features Ignacio Benítez, Carlos Wagner, among others. [imdb title|id=0865438|title=El camino de San Diego.]

The picture tells the story of an Argentine obsessed with "fútbol" athlete Diego Maradona.

Plot

Tati Benitez (Ignacio Benitez), is a young man who lives in the Misiones Province, and an Argentine lumberjack who's been laid off at work. He now makes his living by collecting wood for an artisan named Silva (Miguel Gonzales Colman). He's married to his pregnant wife (Paola Rotela).

Typical of Argentines, Tati is a soccer fanatic. Tati, is quite quirky and, like many Argentines, is obsessed with the Argentine soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, who is legendary in Argentina because of his prowess in the soccer World Cup. He wears a soccer uniform with Maradona's number 10 on it and has a very large 10 tattooed on his back. He even owns two parrots who scream "Maradona" from time to time. His friends joke that Tati is not married to his wife, but to Maradona. In fact, Tati knows every possible statistic of Maradona's career, as well as Maradona's personal information.

One day Tati's hears from friends that Maradona is suffering from heart problems, so he decides to go on a quest.

His mission is to deliver an unusual piece of wood to Maradona at the Swiss-Argentine Hospital in Buenos Aires where he is recuperating. The piece of wood resembles Maradona.

Tati travels by foot, by bus, and even by ambulance, to let Marodona feel the dedication and love of his loyal fan base.

On his way he runs into many adventures.

Background

Casting
Carlos Sorín, in neo-realist fashion, used non-professional actors when he shot the film.

Filming locations
The picture was filmed in: Misiones, Argentina.

Cast

* Ignacio Benítez as Tati Benítez
* Carlos Wagner La Bella as Waguinho
* Paola Rotela as Mujer de Tati
* Silvina Fontelles as Señora Matilde
* Miguel González Colman as Silva, the artisan
* José Armónico as Gauna
* Toti Rivas as El Tolo
* Marisa Córdoba as Mujer del Tolo
* Otto Mosdien as Pastor Otto
* Claudio Uassouf as Cura
* Lila Cáceres as Madre joven
* Pascual Condito as Pascual
* Juan Villegas as Photo Shop Owner
* Walter Donado as Chofer Ambulancia
* Aníbal Maldonado as Contrabandista

Distribution

The film opened in Argentina on September 14, 2006.

The picture was presented at the Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival, Spain.

The movie has been screened at a few film festivals, including: the Spanish and Latin American Film Festival, Ireland; and others.

Critical reception

Álvaro Sanjurjo Toucon, in a scholarly analysis of the film and Carlos Sorín's other works for FIPRESCI, had positive things to say of the picture. He summarized: "Sorín skillfully combines documentary footage of an unreflective, probably self-destructive, Maradona with the scenes involving the young man...sport hasn't been a major theme in Argentine movies, even though it is a significant part of the national identity. Sorín's films highlights the value of his work. In the same way in which we can watch a match from different perspectives depending on where we are seated, "The Road to San Diego" can be interpreted from various points of view. One has just to choose one of the many perspectives offered by the great filmmaker who is Carlos Sorin." [ [http://www.fipresci.org/festivals/archive/2006/havana/sandiego_asanjurjo.htm Sanjurjo Toucon, Alvaro] . "FIPRESCI", film analysis, "A Chronicle of Men and Heroes," 2006.]

Deborah Young, writing for "Variety" magazine, liked the film and wrote, "Carlos Sorín’s delightfully offbeat "Road to San Diego", about a young backwoodsman with a Diego Maradona fetish, is another audience-friendly addition to the director’s repertoire..." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931695.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Young, Deborah] . "Variety", film review, 2006.]

Awards

Wins
* San Sebastián International Film Festival: Special Prize of the Jury; Carlos Sorin; 2006.
* Havana Film Festival: Grand Coral - Second Prize, Carlos Sorin; 2006.

Nominations
* San Sebastián International Film Festival: Golden Seashell; Carlos Sorin; 2006.

References

External links

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* [http://www.cinenacional.com/peliculas/index.php?pelicula=4877 "El camino de San Diego"] at the cinenacional.com sp icon
* [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/Archivo/nota.asp?nota_id=840158 "El camino de San Diego"] film review at "La Nacion" by Adolfo C. Martínez sp icon