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Luca, Luca
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Wikipedia article
'Luca, Luca', also known as 'La hija del canbal', is a 2003 Mexican-Spanish film and the second by Antonio Serrano. The story is based on Spanish journalist Rosa Montero's novel of the same name (1997).[http://www.espasa.com/nuevaweb/ganadores_historico13.htm "Primavera de Novela" award winner] The film stars Argentine actress Cecilia Roth, Mexican actor Kuno Becker, and Spanish actor Carlos lvarez-Nvoa. The cinematographer is Xavier Prez Grobet.
Plot
Luca, a children's book writer, is travelling to Brazil with her husband on vacation, when her husband disappears after going to the airport bathroom. She later learns that he was kidnapped by a group called the People Workers Party that wants 20 million pesos from her. Her husband frantically tells her to find the money in his aunt's safe deposit box. With the help of her neighbours, a Spanish Civil War veteran, and a young musician, Luca sets out to find his kidnappers. She eventually discovers the truth about his disappearance after learning from the police that her husband is accused of being part of an elaborate embezzlement scam from within the Treasury Department of the government and may have possibly faked his kidnapping.
Cast
* Cecilia Roth as Luca
* Kuno Becker as Adrin
* Carlos lvarez-Nvoa as Flix
* Javier Daz Dueas as Inspector Garca
* Margarita Isabel as Luca's mother
* Max Kerlow as Old Wehner
* Mario Ivn Martnez as Mr. Wehner
* Jos Elas Moreno as Ramn
* Hctor Ortega as The Cannibal
* Enrique Singer as Undersecretary Ortiga
Production
The film was shot over a period of eight weeks in and around Mexico City, as well as at the Puebla airport and the Sierra Gorda of Quertaro. In the United States the film was released under the name 'Luca, Luca', since the producers thought the name 'La hija del canbal' (literally, "The cannibal's daughter") would lead audiences to believe the story was about a cannibal.
Reception
'Luca, Luca' was not as successful as Serrano's first film 'Sexo, Pudor y Lgrimas'. Its box-office output in Mexico was MNX$10 million (under a million dollars). In Spain it was released on November 21, 2003 in 100 theaters.[http://www.contactodvd.com/articulos/lucia-lucia-o-la-hija-del-canibal Luca, Luca o La Hija del Canbal] In the United States it had a box-office output of $269,586 in just 50 theatres. The film is the 204th highest grossing foreign film in the United States.
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 45% rating based on reviews from 45 critics. The consensus states: "A relatively simple mid-life crisis story is burdened by overly cumbersome plot devices."
Accolades
The film was nominated for the following awards:
* Ariel Award in 2004 from the Mexican Academy of Film for "Best Adapted Script" (Antonio Serrano)
* MTV Movie Awards Mexico for:
** "Favourite Actor" (Kuno Becker)
** "Best Song" (Kinky's 'Canbal').
References
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