El chacotero sentimental: La película

One of the best features of this movie is to be authentic with Chilean culture and society. Based on a true radio-program in which people confess to the "chacotero sentimental", we can see through the three stories different sides of human relationships so likely to happen in our culture, that if it wouldn´t have been as well played by the actors and visualized by the director, it would lack from interest. Instead, the rhythm is dynamic, giving you some laughs at the first part, a dense and shocking second part and finally a romantic and light ending in order to release the tension of the former story. The setting takes place in some typical sectors of the country, giving a wide sense of belonging to each scene. The actors, with no exception, accomplish brilliantly each character´s features, giving a performance quite attached to real and far away from over-acting. Definitely a movie I recommend.

This film is based on a very popular radio show in Chile. When I went to see it with my wife we were very surprised with the excellent acting, witty details and the pathos that's also in two of the stories.

This has become *the* most popular movie ever filmed in Chile, with nearly 1.000.000 viewers as of today (this in a country where *very* popular movies gross 200.000 spectators). The reason lies in its excellent acting, direction and screenplay.

I hope Cristian Galaz will repeat this remarkable feat.

Although the universality of the films is very arguable, but for people who understands some about the society of such small country this film can be a blast. This is the first film --that I can remember, which talks about a subject not mixed with political issues (sex), as they used to be, and had to be after the 1973 coup. A very enjoyable experience.

Based on stories from the radio show "El Chacotero Sentimental", -something like The Love Joker- It's a real radio show where anyone can call and tell his/her sentimental problems, and its announcer -Rumpi- tries to guide them with humor. The movie... Three stories... They are: "El Patas Negras", "Secretos" and "Todo es Cancha". The second story -"Secretos"- is the best and most powerful in my opinion. Very cinematographic and with the emotional depth required. It has an schizophrenic look and feel. Very adequate. The performances are all very good, especially Claudia Celedón and Tamara Acosta. The movie goes from light comedy to hard drama to comedy-drama. And it surprisingly succeeds in all three. A warning though: the announcer appears from time to time during the stories; this can be distracting for some people; I think he is a bit overacted -well, he's not an actor, this is the real guy playing himself- his part needed more work to be completely satisfying. Anyway, this was by far the most successful Chilean movie ever seen in Chile in decades. Surpassing in the box office such films as "The Sixth Sense" and many other Hollywood blockbusters... for weeks! This is one of the best Chilean movies I've seen in a while. Not since "La Frontera" has another Chilean movie really moved me like this one did. Great work.

As someone said above, this film is based on a very popular radio program broadcast in Chile, in which people used to phone the radio station so as to tell their affairs, sexual adventures and problems.

Therefore, the film is shown as if someone calls in and tells his/her story, but instead of listening to it we see the images. The film is divided into 3 stories. The first one is a very hilarious story about a college student who has a hot affair with a married woman. The second; on the contrary, is about a bizarre incestuous relationship that will leave your jaw dropped in astonishment. The last one is the most hilarious of the three, dealing with the space and time problems that a couple has to have sex due to the large number of people living in the house and to their money scarcity.

I believe that the third story unveils the raw reality of haves-not Chileans, whose apartments, granted by the government, are as small as a match box. Moreover, most of the times there are about fourteen people living in those apartments! So forget about the words PRIVACY and your own SPACE.