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.

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.

In 1999, Cristian Gallaz created the most hilarious Chilean comedian -in accordance with me- for the last times. He shows a perfect vision of the real Chilean people, describing the real personality, fantasy, dreams, perspectives and more from the typical "medium class" Chilean people. In a brief comment, The Rumpy is an young radio host DJ whose call-in program in present time called El Chacotero Sentimental and -the program- is listened throughout all of Chile. His candid but humorous advice to the lovelorn strikes a chord with his listeners. It is business as usual as El Chacotero Sentimental takes on three callers who spill their hearts and inner thoughts for Rumpy and the whole of Chile to hear. But are these torrid tales of love affairs, family secrets and unusual circumstances really that unusual. An enormous success in Chile, El Chacotero Sentimental is based on an live radio program. In the USA DVD edition, this movie was called The Sentimental Teaser

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.

Maybe the best Chilean film of the year, "El chacotero..." shows us the public and private life of the common people in Chile. The mixture between drama and comedy is superb, and the acting has no low points. For me, the best story is the first; but you must see the movie and decide. The director, Cristian Galaz comes from video clips and advertisement, so the movie has this kind of treatment in some parts. I guess it would be appreciated better in TV format. Anyway is a very, very good film. In Chile was a blockbuster in theaters.