Le muchacho

I can't believe I'm one of the only people commenting on this. Even though this ain't the best movie I ever saw, it deserves more reviews.

After 'Marcelino pan y vino', Ladislao Vajda brought us this, completely different (and unrelated too) but without abandoning the same minimalist philosophy.

This film tells the story of an uncle and a nephew who are like father and son because of their relationship and because they live under the same roof.

In the story they spend a whole day walking (mostly by foot) through the streets of Madrid. They experience several events, some of them together and some of them on their own. One of the most hilarious is when Pepote calls «Mentiroso!» out loud with his husky voice to a kid who wouldn't let him play and then he takes a little "revenge" for fun by wetting the kid with water from a truck. And it's so hilarious when Pepote keeps saying «Papa, tengo hambre!».

Antonio Vico as Jacinto does his job well. Pablito Calvo is simply splendid as little Pepote.

This is a sensitive story proceeded in simplicity and delicacy by Ladislao Vadja . Second film in the trilogy with the child Pablito Calvo and directed by the Hungarian Vadja for Chamartin Production Company ; resulting to be among the best of Spanish cinema . Jacinto (Antonio Vico) is a bullfighter long ago withdrawn , who lives with his small niece . The little boy named "Pepote" (Pablito Calvo) has lost his parents and become a pure and simple heart . Jacinto receives a letter reminding that needs to be submitted in a bullfight that is next to celebrate . Meanwhile , Jacinto and Pepotte share their time collecting cigars butts in the vicinity of the Bullring of "Las Ventas" . There Peppote watches the cartel in which is announced the following bullfight where appears his uncle Jacinto , when actually is a Charlotada , including clowns .

Interesting drama/comedy (Dramedy) dealing with Madrid habits , bullfighting , uncle-nephew relationship and many other things . It turns out be an awesome film , likeness to masterpieces ¨The Bait¨ and ¨Marcelino Bread and Wine¨ ; and even superior to ¨An Angel over Brooklyn¨. This an enjoyable and feeling movie full of mirth , humor touches and agreeable message based on a story and screenplay by Andrés Laszlo who also wrote ¨Paco el Seguro¨ . At the same time the film gives us an ample panorama about Madrid life , its pity and goodness ; furthermore, showing the citizens , men at work , swindlers , thieves , rascals and various situations happen in this big city . The scenarios in which develops the deeds are perfectly designed , a Madrid in the 1950 where lived all kinds of pickpockets , street vendors , counterfeiters , waifs and a host of roles that are cropping out in the movie . The main role "Jacinto" is played by Antonio Vico in a phenomenal manner , can be said that the same is perfectly adequate to his measure . ¨Pepote¨ his nephew , is masterfully acted by Pablito Calvo . Right developing resides on superb characters well performed by all casting and the sympathy , simplicity of Pablito Calvo . There appears notorious secondary actors , acting to perfection , such as José Isbert, this is one of the major actors in the Spanish cinema , Rafael Bardem , Jose Calvo , humorists as Miguel Gila and Luis Sanchez Pollack and Italian players as Paolo Stoppa and Walter Chiari . Special appearance by prestigious Spanish secondaries who also participated in ¨Marcelino Bread and Wine¨ such as Juan Calvo , Mariano Azaña, Adriano Dominguez , Jose Marco Davo .

Musical score by Roland Vlad responds appropriately to the ambient , originating a careful atmosphere . Precious and luminous cinematography by Enrich Guerner (Vadja's ordinary) who gives us an accurate scenario of the times is developed . Guerner or Heinrich Gärtner was a magnificent cameraman , and similarly to Ladislao Vadja with the arrival of the Nazis and with his Jewish origin, he went in Spain in 1933 ; that's where he worked for the rest of his life and even took the Spanish nationality . He became there a very influential cinematographer and trained many of the Spanish cinematographers who worked with him as assistant cameramen like José F. Aguayo . The motion picture was excellently directed by Ladislao Vadja , born in Hungary, he's author of sensational movies , such as 'The Bait', and 'Cord of prisoners', and three with Pablito Calvo: 'An Angel over Brooklyn'(along with Peter Ustinov) and 'Uncle Jacinto' . The filmmaker Ladislao Vadja succeeds in this picture , obtaining a great achievement , managing perfectly to the performers and taking advantage of them , giving the best of his acting . In my opinion this is one of the best films to come out of Europe in the decade of the 50s . The picture touched the hearts of numerous spectators around the world . Rating : Above average for its worthwhile mingle of drama , comedy , sentimentalism and good feeling .