Esperando al mesías (2000)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Daniel Burman

Writers:

Daniel Burman (writer)
Emiliano Torres (writer)

Release Date:

25 May 2000 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Businessman | Jewish | Jewess | Unemployment

Awards:

5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Daniel Hendler	...	Ariel Goldstein
Enrique Piñeyro	...	Santamaría
Héctor Alterio	...	Simón
Melina Petriella	...	Estela
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Elsa
Chiara Caselli	...	Laura
Gabriela Acher	...	Sara
Imanol Arias	...	Baltasar
Dolores Fonzi	...	Any
Edda Bustamante	...	Mujer trampa
Tajma Minoru	...	Oriental
Juan José Flores Quispe	...	Ramón
Eduardo Wigutow	...	Moshé Levin
Beatriz Thibaudin	...	Anciana
Sandra Sandrelli	...	Santa
Dan Adaszko	...	Albino 1
Ariel Adaszko	...	Albino 2
Alejandro Londinsky	...	Hijo de Moshé
Silvina Arbiter	...	Mujer que ama
María Soledad Ávalo	...	Nena sordomuda
Walter Reyna	...	Gerente
Mónica Galán	...	Voz de Elsa
Noemí Frenkel	...	Vos de Laura
Magdalena Ruiz Guiñazú	...	Voz de la radio

Directed by
Daniel Burman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Daniel Burman		writer
Emiliano Torres		writer

Produced by
Luis Ángel Bellaba	....	co-producer
Diego Dubcovsky	....	executive producer
Diego Dubcovsky	....	producer
Ariel Epstein	....	supervising producer
Axel Linari	....	supervising producer
Enrique Piñeyro	....	co-producer

Original Music by
César Lerner
Marcelo Moguilevsky

Cinematography by
Ramiro Civita

Film Editing by
Verónica Chen

Production Design by
Gabriella Chistik
Paula Taratuto

Costume Design by
Betina Andreose
Alejandra Tomas

Makeup Department
Óscar Mulet	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carolina Jalfe	....	assistant director
Lino Pujía	....	assistant director
Emiliano Torres	....	assistant director
Natalia Urruty	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gustavo Charlon	....	assistant production designer
Julián D'Angiolillo	....	storyboard artist
Carolina Ruy	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Martín Grignaschi	....	sound director
Martin Litmanovich	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Ramiro Civita	....	camera operator (as Ramiro Aisenson)
Lucas Guidalevich	....	film recorder operator: Cineon
Esteban Monteagud	....	assistant camera
Victor Vasini	....	film recorder operator: Cineon
Cristian Vega	....	electrician
Juan Andrés von Bernard	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Juan Pablo Lloret	....	assistant editor
Pablo Mazzolo	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Silvio Benítez	....	production assistant
Luis Bernardez	....	production assistant
Ana Laura Díaz	....	production assistant
Marcelo A. Ibarracín	....	production assistant
Carola Jalife	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Astrolabio Producciones S.L.
• BD Cine

Distributors

• Amanda Films S.L. (Spain)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pretty Pictures (France)
• Prime Time Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (video)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
• TLA Releasing (USA) (video)

Also Known As:

Waiting for the Messiah (International: English title)

Runtime:

Argentina:98 min | Germany:93 min | Spain:98 min | USA:97 min

Country:

Spain | Italy | Argentina

Language:

Spanish | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Brazil:14 | Chile:18 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Spain:13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Astrolabio Producciones S.L.

Movie Connections:

Features Donkey Kong (1981) (VG)

Original; Among the best South American films of 2000

This outstanding Argentine independent film is one of the very best of the year 2000 from all South America, including Argentina, which is producing an astonishing number of quality films since 1999. In 2000 alone, Argentina released many quality films, which broke Argentine B.O. records. A half dozen were internationally acclaimed, like this one, at important world film festivals. After viewing this film, one can see how home grown Argentinian films were able last year to recapture 20% of its national movie market.

Directed by one of Argentina's best directors, Daniel Burman, this film examines effects of globalisation worldwide, but emphasizes its impact on Argentina, and particularly the Jewish community of Buenos Aires. Daniel Hendler is wonderful as the nice Jewish boy, trying to survive and even succeed in today's business climate. Hector Alterio, one of the great actors of Hispanic Cinema worldwide, is perfect as Simon, the Jewish father, as is the rest of the cast, which includes Spanish and Italian stars.

So many current themes in urban Western societies are explored, I don't have enough space to go into detail. Daniel Burman cleverly weaves them into the plot with different characters personifying diverse dilemmas. If this film plays at a festival near you, or on video, don't miss it!