Eres mi héroe

Theme of adolescence and coming of age in difficult times is well known in world cinema and from first look it seems that "You're my hero" adds nothing new to old formula. However, with first shots and scenes of the movie it's easy to realize that you get much more than you bargained for.

Incredibly bright and sincere story of a boy on verge of adolescence never leave you indifferent, his discoveries and joys, disappointments and grief give you chance to endure with our hero all his emotions and struggles. The audience easily becomes a part of the story of Ramon and a part of his little triumphs and tragedies. Sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter storytelling never lets you down and immensely attracts you but at the same time the world around the characters is changing. Spain struggles for freedom and democracy and echo of events in the country eventually reaches the boys.

It is mid 70s and the last days of oppressive regime Franco. More and more people went to streets, demanding changes and all that they were deprived during long years. But for 13 years old Ramon it's time for moving to new place and new school and he already know that it always promises nothing good for him. Sunny Seville becomes a new episode of his life and another test for three main rules, which helped him to survive in all years of traveling from one place to another. Every school and every street had its bullies and a new kid was always bound to be their first victim.

The first rule: don't fight – it just making everything worse and they will beat you up, the second rule – don't snitch - they will never forgive you and the third rule - don't cry – that is all what they always want from you. The battle for survival has begun from the first day in new school and playful question of principal about Ramon's favorite football team. After some attacks from classmates the first rule is broken and everything changes but surprisingly help came from outside.

Franco dies and it leads to no punishment and an unexpected vacation brings new possibilities for Ramon to look at the world around him with new eyes. What is more unexpected that after his attempt of standing for himself former bullies begin to talk to him and even gradually accept him into their close company. No more trying to be invisible and new friends give a chance for awakening of new feelings and emotions. After watching smuggled "Playboys" and rather dirty jokes soon come first kisses and first love while the country is also changing. For many years everything about political and sexual freedoms was suppressed by civil and religious authorities and it is time to challenge them. People come to fight for their rights and at the same time new words are coming into world of boys, already filled with emotions, feelings and tensions: "freedom" and "fascism", "free election", "civil rights" and "amnesty".

It is so much important that rising of the country and those who care for its future is not just a background for the main story of Ramon and his mates. Director Ramon Cuadri and the actors so skillfully and authentically transmitted that atmosphere of social struggling that the country itself and all those people become important characters in the movie. As you always feel strong sympathy for poignant and sincere Manuel Lozano as Ramon you are also starting to care about people fighting for what is right or for school teacher who is challenging the whole system. Such a strong emotional uplifting for the audience is in my opinion one of the greatest possible achievement for filmmakers and the actors. Bright young Spanish talent Manuel Lozano is absolutely terrific here, he successfully conveys to us all strong emotions and feelings of main character without any sighs of uncertainty or overacting. His incredible and mature performance marks him as one of the most talented young actors nowadays and I definitely would like to see more movies with him. Although standout Manuel Lozano is mostly stealing the show, the other main characters also have their moments of glory, particularly the leader of the boys David (also an excellent performance of young Felix Lopes) and school teacher Mateo (Toni Canto). Both of them did incredibly well in some quite important and poignant scenes. It is worth to mention also that despite very harsh language the movie is absolutely suitable for young viewers, in many ways it is even intended for teen audience, probably accompanied by adults. It doesn't look crude or repulsive; it's just intimate and poignant in tradition of famous "Stand by Me" and other masterpieces about childhood and adolescence experience. Well written and rather appropriate soundtrack with a couple of songs is a good addition to strong visual part.

Here the first steps to adult life mean not only awakening of new strong feelings and losing of childhood innocence. It also brings rediscovery of political freedom and its meaning and sort of soft sexual revolution in society. Adulthood brings new discoveries and disappointments, triumphs and letdowns but these bitter and sweet memories of adolescence stay with you forever.

You're my hero (Eres mi heroe) is a very strong and poignant story of adolescence in time of changes and definitely one of the best movies I've seen in last months. It's not perfect and perhaps if you make this as a goal you could find some minor drawbacks but I simply couldn't resist because my emotions during the movie were so immensely strong. When the credits were rolling all that I could do was to cheer and applaud.

Congratulations to anyone involved and highly recommended.

An agreable and nostalgic story set during Franco's 1975 demise , dealing with a growing-up story , along with a wonderful friendship between an outsider little boy , his best friend and a covert Religion teacher (Tony Cantó) . Stars Ramón (Manuel Lozano) moves to Sevilla along with his father who works in ¨Galerias Preciados¨ mall and his loving mother (Maru Valdivieso) . When his family settles in Seville, and going to school , there the timid boy becomes victim to the attention of the school's most notorious crowd , suffering bullying from them . All these things collide in Ramón's disconcerting world . He was always an underdog , as Ramón dedicates himself to read comic books , novels and goes to the cinema and admires an imaginary, mythical Native Indian (Antonio Dechent) from Westerns and Raquel Welch's One Million Years B. C. too . Ramón lives by a strict mantra : Don't Fight , Don't Snitch and Don't Cry , but he dreams of changing his life someday . He gets his chance to be a fine boy when and he makes good friends and while falling in love for a schoolmate.

A nice coming-of-age story with some issues that mirror the political goings on in the days before and subsequent the death of dictator Franco by sending shockwaves throughout Spain , while cracks of changes , rebellion and independence start appearing here and there . A sensitive drama with a budding friendship and romantic elements , it results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with dramatic deeds regarding the Spanish Transition ; including enjoyable performances and adequate set design . Eres mi héroe (2003) with its fictitious Indian/Antonio Dechent counselling the kid , follows the style to ¨A Galope Tendido¨ (2000) the latter regarding a boy haunted by a cowboy/Sancho Gracia and ¨Tongue of Butterflies¨(1999) concerning a student/Manuel Lozano himself and his intimate teacher/Fernando Fernán Gómez . Director Antonio Cuadri , also writes the interesting script, filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . The flick can be defined as a realist drama , a romantic tale, a historic fresco and a socio-political fable , but finally resulting in a sensitive tale in which a little boy learns that one of the most fundamental and enduring things in life is true friendship. The main problem has to face , beyond not being able to avoid falling into the politic pamphlet is precisely derived from the coldness of its staging -at times- , being excessively maudlin and containing some slow-moving scenes . Because the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this sometimes joyful as well as sad flick , though also contains humorous and enjoyable moments a when the children are gathered and play and enjoy themselves and of course the stirring , moving ending . Anyway, it's is compensated with the great interpretations from Antonio Dechent , Tony Cantó and the little boy Manuel Lozano , a true boy prodigy , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result . Antonio Cuadri is a great director of actors and the main players are complemented by a good cast of secondaries as Maru Valdivielso , Toni Cantó , Antonio Dechent , Juan Fernández , Martxelo Rubio and brief appearance by Carmen Ruiz , among others ; all of them forming a powerful human group of support cast and giving excellent acting .

Special mention for magnificent musical score by Carita Boronska who composes an evocative as well as catching musical score . Including a spotless pictorial cinematography by Alex Catalán and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence , every space , being shot mostly in Sevilla , Andalucia . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Antonio Cuadri . It won some prizes and nominations , such as : Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival 2003 Winner Jury Award : Young Actor's Award ,Manuel Lozano and Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival 2003 Winner Best Director. Writer/director Antonio Cuadri was born in Huelva (Andalucia) location where he shot his main and big-budgeted film titled ¨The heart of the earth¨ with an international cast . Cuadri is a fine craftsman with some hits , such as ¨La Gran Vida¨ with Selma Hayek , Carmelo Gómez , this¨Eres Mi Heroe¨ and previously made a documentary titled ¨Riotinto (2004)¨. Nowadays , he only directs TV episodes (Cuentame, Manolito Gafotas , UCO , Todos Hombres Sois Iguales , Al Salir De Clase , among them). Eres mi héroe (2003) rating : 6.5/10 . Well worth watching . Better than average.

Like TV-series "Cuéntame cómo pasó", "Eres mi héroe" is set in the 1970's and tells the story from the point of view of a child/teenager. For those who ask for a minimum of realism, the good news is that all similarities between "Cuéntame" and "Eres mi héroe" end up just here.

Not that "Cuéntame" is a bad series (I actually like it), but one should watch it knowing that it is a bucolic retelling of those extremely important years in Spanish history. On the other hand, "Eres mi héroe" gives a more realistic and edgier account of both childhood/teenage life and the Spanish transition. Therefore, everyday coming-of-age problems get mixed with political problems surrounding the protagonist, and the eventual result is an entertaining yet acceptably rigorous account of those convulse years.

Manuel Lozano, the child from "La lengua de las mariposas", has grown up to be a nice teenage actor who gracefully plays Ramón, the main character. Supporting turns from Maru Valdivielso, Juan Fernández and (surprisingly) Toni Cantó are very welcome, but the real standout is the discovery of young actor Félix López, who plays Ramón's pal David. It's not that often that one sees two believable juvenile performances in the same film, and Lozano and López also show great chemistry in their scenes together.

The only part I didn't buy was Antonio Dechent's ridiculous part as an Indian Chief, a character that adds absolutely nothing to the plot and really takes the focus from more interesting subplots. I understand this is a device the writers use to portray the boy's coming-of-age process, but I really could have lived without it. I would rather have seen more scenes involving priest Toni Cantó or the boy's family.

Anyway, the movie is interesting enough and quite entertaining too. Overall rating: 8/10