André Valente
Russian title: Андре Валенте
Original title: André Valente
Original title: André Valente
Family drama – Portugal
Production year: 2003
Movie length: 71 minutes
Production year: 2003
Movie length: 71 minutes
Director: Catarina Ruivo
Writer: Catarina Ruivo
Cinematograph: Rui Poças
Music: Paulo Pimentel
Writer: Catarina Ruivo
Cinematograph: Rui Poças
Music: Paulo Pimentel
Movie description:
The main protagonist, 8-year-old Andre, lives alone with his mother who has been depressed since his father left. He has a friend called Susana, but one day she moves away. He makes friends with his intriguing neighbour, a Russian guy who goes on strange errands every evening, carrying a big sports bag, so he follows. Nicolai ice skates so Andre also takes up the sport, making sure the man eventually takes notice of him. Like all his friends will this one eventually go away?
André, aged eight, has his world overturned one Christmas night. Whilst he is asleep, his father leaves home for the second time, without any apparent reason or explanation. Then his best friend Susanna, with whom he has a warm and tender relationship, moves to a distant part of town. And if that wasnt enough, his schoolmates are always making fun of him and his mother has become infatuated with one of her colleagues, which the young boy cannot come to terms with. This is when Nikolai, a neighbour of Russian origin, appears, with an aura of mystery about him which piques Andrés curiosity, leading him to follow the man. Nikolai goes regularly to the skating rink to get away from his sad and oppressive daily routine. André hides in the shadows of the rinks terraces to observe him as he skates alone on the ice.
Dealing with the subject of difficult childhood without descending into pathos or sentimentality is no easy task, but Catarina Ruivos approach is very unobtrusive, and results in a subtle and sensitive film.
»It’s almost Christmas! I wish my father was back in time for Christmas, bearing the gifts I asked for. I wish he would stay with us for a long time and not argue with my mother. I wish the other kids at school would stop pestering me at the playground and I hope that Susana will always be my friend. I want her to come with me to the abandoned house. Yesterday I saw light in there again. Also, I need to tell Susana about a mystery I’ve discovered. Everyday at the same time my front neighbour, who speaks a weird language, leaves home wearing a tracksuit. We could follow him and find out where he’s headed ...«
André, aged eight, has his world overturned one Christmas night. Whilst he is asleep, his father leaves home for the second time, without any apparent reason or explanation. Then his best friend Susanna, with whom he has a warm and tender relationship, moves to a distant part of town. And if that wasnt enough, his schoolmates are always making fun of him and his mother has become infatuated with one of her colleagues, which the young boy cannot come to terms with. This is when Nikolai, a neighbour of Russian origin, appears, with an aura of mystery about him which piques Andrés curiosity, leading him to follow the man. Nikolai goes regularly to the skating rink to get away from his sad and oppressive daily routine. André hides in the shadows of the rinks terraces to observe him as he skates alone on the ice.
Dealing with the subject of difficult childhood without descending into pathos or sentimentality is no easy task, but Catarina Ruivos approach is very unobtrusive, and results in a subtle and sensitive film.
»It’s almost Christmas! I wish my father was back in time for Christmas, bearing the gifts I asked for. I wish he would stay with us for a long time and not argue with my mother. I wish the other kids at school would stop pestering me at the playground and I hope that Susana will always be my friend. I want her to come with me to the abandoned house. Yesterday I saw light in there again. Also, I need to tell Susana about a mystery I’ve discovered. Everyday at the same time my front neighbour, who speaks a weird language, leaves home wearing a tracksuit. We could follow him and find out where he’s headed ...«
Boy Actors
Photographs
More informations
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