The Blue Star (Spanish: La estrella azul) is a 2023 Spanish-Argentine drama film directed by Javier Macipe (in his directorial debut feature) inspired by the life of Aragonese musician Mauricio Aznar which stars Pepe Lorente.
| The Blue Star | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | La estrella azul |
| Directed by | Javier Macipe |
| Screenplay by | Javier Macipe |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Álvaro Medina |
| Edited by | Nacho Blasco |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Wanda Visión |
Release dates |
Festival|Zinemaldia]])
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Running time | 129 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Spanish |
Plot
editSet in the 1990s,[1] the plot follows the plight of Spanish rocker Mauricio, who leaves his band and wanders around Latin America seeking to rediscover his musical vocation. He becomes acquainted with folk genres such as the chacarera in Santiago del Estero, and teams up with old musician Don Carlos.[2][3][4]
Cast
edit- Pepe Lorente as Mauricio Aznar[5]
- Cuti Carabajal as Carlos Carabajal[5]
- Mariela Carabajal as Andrea Carabajal[5]
- Demi Carabajal as himself
- Miriam Gutiérrez as Zita Carabajal
- Noelia Verenice Díaz as Florcita Carabajal[5]
- Marc Rodríguez as Pedro[6]
- Bruna Cusí as Ana[5]
- Catalina Sopelana as Mara[5]
- Aitor Domingo as Gabriel
- Pablo Carabajal as himself
- Peteco Carabajal as himself
- Coya Chavero as Atahualpa Yupanqui
Production
editThe project was born as a commission from Mauricio Aznar's mother to Javier Macipe 18 years before the theatrical release of the film.[7] The film is a Spanish-Argentine co-production by MOD Producciones, El Pez Amarillo and Cimarrón, alongside La Charito Films and Prisma.[4] Filming began in 2020 in Zaragoza.[8] It was interrupted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It resumed in Argentina in late 2022, shooting in locations such as Santiago del Estero.[8]
Release
editThe film was selected for the 'New Directors' section of the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival,[4] premiering on 25 September 2023.[9] Its festival run also included screenings at the Warsaw Film Festival, the Seville European Film Festival, the Mar del Plata International Film Festival,[10][11] and the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It was released theatrically in Spain on 23 February 2024.[12]
The theatrical release in Argentina and Uruguay was set for 12 September 2024.[13]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.3/10.[14]
Philipp Engel of Cinemanía rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars deeming it to be "pure cinephile craftmanship, the emotion about a finely done work" in the verdict, while writing that the film has "a universal reach, infinitely broader than the band's fan club".[15]
Alberto Olmos of El Confidencial rated the film 5 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a very beautiful film, of good people, of sacred sadness" and "the best cinema possible".[16]
Paula Arantzazu Ruiz of Ara rated the film 4 out of 5 stars writing that "everything is diaphanous and poetic at the same time" in the film, while the biographical account "is imbued with a truly authentic emotion".[17]
Alejandro Lingenti of La Nación rated the film 4 out of 5 stars ('very good'), writing that the fiction "intersects opportunely with the documentary to enhance the affective community that existed between the Spanish musician and his warm hosts [from Santiago del Estero]".[18]
In September 2024, the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain selected The Blue Star for a shortlist of 3 films to determine their final submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[19]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Nueva Vision Award for Spain / Latin America Cinema | Won | [20] | |
| 42nd Uruguay International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [21] | ||
| Young Jury Award | Won | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "La estrella azul". sansebastianfestival.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "'La estrella azul', la película insipirada en el rockero zaragozano Mauricio Aznar que va a San Sebastián". Cine con Ñ. 14 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Se retoma dos años después el rodaje de 'La estrella azul', ópera prima de Javier Macipe". Audiovisual451. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "'La estrella azul': el cartel de la película, en primicia en RTVE Play". rtve.es. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f ""La estrella azul", la película que une al padre de la chacarera con el rock español de los '80". tn.com. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (19 February 2024). "Los estrenos del 23 de febrero. 'La estrella azul'. El sueño de un rockabilly". Aisge. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Rodríguez Pachón, Sara (22 February 2024). "'La estrella azul': llega a los cines la vida de Mauricio Aznar y otras estrellas anónimas". eldiario.es. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ a b Artigas, Miguel Ángel (2 February 2023). "El rodaje de 'La estrella azul', primer largo de Javier Macipe, afronta su recta final". Diario de Teruel. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Buenas sensaciones en el primer pase de 'La Estrella Azul' en el Festival de Cine de San Sebastián". CarTV. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Se estrena el tráiler de 'La estrella azul', la película del zaragozano Javier Macipe". Heraldo de Aragón. 22 December 2023.
- ^ Gómez, Noelia (8 November 2023). ""La estrella azul": el encuentro entre el músico español Mauricio Aznar y el padre de la chacarera". Infobae. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Vendrell, Ramón (8 March 2024). "'La estrella azul', la película que redescubre al cabecilla de Más Birras y traslada a una arcadia musical". El Periódico de Catalunya. Prensa Ibérica.
- ^ Losilla, J.F. (21 August 2024). "¿Por qué 'La estrella azul' podría representar a España en los Óscar". Heraldo de Aragón.
- ^ "The Blue Star". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Engel, Philipp (21 February 2024). "Crítica de 'La estrella azul': apuesta por el rock 'n' roll". Cinemanía. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Olmos, Alberto (8 March 2024). "'La Estrella azul': esta película es demasiado buena para ser española (¡es aragonesa!)". El Confidencial. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Ruiz, Paula Arantzazu (22 February 2024). "Una emocionante crónica sobre el legendario Mauricio Aznar". Ara. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Lingenti, Alejandro (12 September 2024). "La estrella azul: la historia de Mauricio Aznar, el rockero español que se enamoró del folklore argentino". La Nación.
- ^ Barranco, Justo (5 September 2024). "'The Blue Star', 'Marco' and 'Saturn Return' to represent Spanish cinema at the Oscars". Mediterranean – via La Vanguardia.
- ^ Ramos Bechara, Diego (17 February 2024). "'TransMexico,' 'Edge of Everything,' 'Andragogy' Among Santa Barbara Film Festival Winners". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "Todos los premios del 42 Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay (FCIU)". EscribiendoCine. 31 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
