Martín (Hache)
Martín (Hache) [maɾˈtin ˈatʃe] is a 1997 Argentine and Spanish film directed by Adolfo Aristarain and starring Federico Luppi, Juan Diego Botto, Cecilia Roth and Eusebio Poncela.
| Martín (Hache) | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Adolfo Aristarain |
| Written by | Adolfo Aristarain Kathy Saavedra |
| Produced by | Executive Producer: Javier López Blanco Producers: Adolfo Aristarain Gerardo Herrero Fito Páez |
| Starring | Federico Luppi Juan Diego Botto Cecilia Roth Eusebio Poncela |
| Cinematography | Porfirio Enríquez |
| Edited by | Fernando Pardo |
| Music by | Fito Páez |
| Distributed by | Argentina: Líder Films Spain: Alta Films |
Release date | April 17, 1997 (Argentina) |
Running time | 134 minutes |
| Countries | Argentina Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
| Budget | 200 million pesetas |
It was the fifth most watched domestic film in Argentina, with 380,000 viewers.[1] It was nominated for four Goya Awards in 1998, and Cecilia Roth won one for lead actress. It also 4 Silver Condors (Argentina film awards); for Best Director (Adolfo Aristarain), Best Actor (Federico Luppi), Best Actress (Cecilia Roth) and Best Supporting Actor (Eusebio Poncela).[1]
It was filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Madrid, and Almería, Spain.[2][3]
Plot summary
Martín, known as "Hache," is a 19-year-old Argentinian boy. After his girlfriend leaves him, he has a nearly fatal drug overdose (thought by many to be an attempted suicide). Afterwards, his mother sends him to Madrid to live with his father, Martin.
Martin, a successful film-maker, doesn't want to take care of his son because he likes living alone and being able to socialize with his two friends, Alicia and Dante, without influencing his son in any negative way since both Alicia and Dante are experienced drug users. Regardless, he brings him into his home, hoping to ward off any evil influences that might cause his son to have a relapse and commit suicide.
As time passes and Martin's friendships get more strained, it becomes clear that Hache needs to leave his father's place and make a name for himself.
Cast
- Federico Luppi as Martín
- Juan Diego Botto as Hache
- Eusebio Poncela as Dante
- Cecilia Roth as Alicia
- Ana María Picchio (credited as Ana Maria Picchio) as Blanca
- Sancho Gracia as José M.ª Navarro
- José María Sacristán (credited as José M. Sacristán) as Schauve
- Will More (credited as Joaquin A. Colmenares) as Coracero
- Ángel Amorós (credited as Angel Amoros) as Productor Teatro
- Kojun Notsu as Joven Oriental
- Esther Herrera as Niña Andrógina
- Marisa Cabezón (credited as Marisa Cabezon) as Mujer Espejo
- Enrique Liporace as Migue
- Claudia Gallegos as Lea
- Leonora Balcarce as Nadia
Background
The title makes reference to the name of the son of Martín, portrayed by Juan Diego Botto, who is named after his father but with an "h" in brackets, which means hijo ("son" in Spanish; hache is the Spanish name for the letter 'H'). It is similar to calling a son named for his father "Junior" in English. The movie's English subtitles translate "Hache" as "Jay," since "jay" is the English name for the first letter in "junior" and is also a common English given name.[3]
References
- Carolina Rocha Masculinities in Contemporary Argentine Popular Cinema, p. 114, at Google Books
- Thomas G. Deveny Migration in Contemporary Hispanic Cinema, p. 178, at Google Books
- Wimal Dissanayake and Anthony Guneratne (Editors) Rethinking Third Cinema, p. 201, at Google Books