The Blue Star | |
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![]() 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 |
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Countries |
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Language | Spanish |
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.
Plot
[edit]Set 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]
- Bruna Cusí as Ana[5]
- Catalina Sopelana as Mara[5]
- Cuti Carabajal as Carlos Carabajal[5]
- Mariela Carabajal as Andrea[5]
- Noelia Verenice Díaz as Florcita[5]
- Marc Rodríguez as Pedro[6]
Production
[edit]The 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
[edit]The 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]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.3/10.[13]
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".[14]
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".[15]
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".[16]
Accolades
[edit]Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
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2024 |
39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Nueva Vision Award for Spain / Latin America Cinema | Won | [17] | |
42nd Uruguay International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [18] | ||
Young Jury Award | Won |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "La estrella azul". sansebastianfestival.com. 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.
- ^ a b c "'La estrella azul': el cartel de la película, en primicia en RTVE Play". rtve.es. 5 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.
- ^ Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (19 February 2024). "Los estrenos del 23 de febrero. 'La estrella azul'. El sueño de un rockabilly". Aisge.
- ^ Rodríguez Pachón, Sara (22 February 2024). "'La estrella azul': llega a los cines la vida de Mauricio Aznar y otras estrellas anónimas". eldiario.es.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Buenas sensaciones en el primer pase de 'La Estrella Azul' en el Festival de Cine de San Sebastián". CarTV. 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Olmos, Alberto (8 March 2024). "'La Estrella azul': esta película es demasiado buena para ser española (¡es aragonesa!)". El Confidencial.
- ^ Ruiz, Paula Arantzazu (22 February 2024). "Una emocionante crónica sobre el legendario Mauricio Aznar". Ara.
- ^ Ramos Bechara, Diego (17 February 2024). "'TransMexico,' 'Edge of Everything,' 'Andragogy' Among Santa Barbara Film Festival Winners". Variety.
- ^ "Todos los premios del 42 Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay (FCIU)". EscribiendoCine. 31 March 2024.