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El Camino de San Diego
El camino de San Diego (2006) is an Argentine comedy film, written and directed by Carlos Sorin. The film features Ignacio Benitez, Carlos Wagner, among others.
The picture tells the story of an Argentine obsessed with futbol athlete Diego Maradona.
Plot
Tati Benitez (Ignacio Benitez), is a young man who lives in the Misiones Province, and a 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
CastingCarlos Sorin, in neo-realist fashion, used non-professional actors when he shot the film.
Filming locationsThe picture was filmed in: Misiones, Argentina.
Cast
Ignacio Benitez as Tati Benitez
Carlos Wagner La Bella as Waguinho
Paola Rotela as Mujer de Tati
Silvina Fontelles as Senora Matilde
Miguel Gonzalez Colman as Silva, the artisan
Jose Armonico as Gauna
Toti Rivas as El Tolo
Marisa Cordoba as Mujer del Tolo
Otto Mosdien as Pastor Otto
Claudio Uassouf as Cura
Lila Caceres as Madre joven
Pascual Condito as Pascual
Juan Villegas as Photo Shop Owner
Walter Donado as Chofer Ambulancia
Anibal Maldonado as Contrabandista
Distribution
The film opened in Argentina on September 14, 2006.
The picture was presented at the Donostia-San Sebastian 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
Alvaro Sanjurjo Toucon, in a scholarly analysis of the film and Carlos Sorin's other works for FIPRESCI, had positive things to say of the picture. He summarized: "Sorin 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 Argentinean movies, even though it is a significant part of the national identity. Sorin'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." 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 Sorins delightfully offbeat Road to San Diego, about a young backwoodsman with a Diego Maradona fetish, is another audience-friendly addition to the directors repertoire..." Young, Deborah. Variety, film review, 2006.
Awards
Wins
San Sebastian International Film Festival: Special Prize of the Jury; Carlos Sorin; 2006.
Havana Film Festival: Grand Coral - Second Prize, Carlos Sorin; 2006.
Nominations
San Sebastian International Film Festival: Golden Seashell; Carlos Sorin; 2006.
External links
El camino de San Diego at the cinenacional.com .
El camino de San Diego film review at La Nacion by Adolfo C. Martinez .
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article El Camino de San Diego
