Amateurs
(Amateurs)
Gabriel Velázquez / Spain / 2008 / 84 min
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Spanish with English subtitles
Julio Nieves is a 65-year-old foreman who has spent his entire life in the Madrid suburb of Vallecas. In the blink of an eye, he goes from contentedly facing his retirement alone to the possibility of companionship in the form of a 16-year-old girl from Marseille, who claims to be his daughter. But what if she’s not his flesh and blood? And what if Nieves takes her in to ease the pain of his own solitude? How far can people go to avoid being alone?
About the Director
Gabriel Velázquez debuted with the short In Madison Always Monday, for which he won the Film Luis Buñuel Award. Since then, he has continued his career as a producer, director, and screenwriter. His film Sud Express (co-directed with Chema de la Peña) competed in the Official Selection of the San Sebastian Festival where it won the Signis Award. Velázquez received an award for Best Picture and Best Director at the International Festival Film of La Palma for his film Amateurs. His last film, Iceberg won the Special Mention of the Jury at the Gijon Film Festival and the First Prize and the Prize of Youth Jury at Cinespagnol Nantes. Velázquez is currently preparing his next project, Folk, about the rescue of the most atavistic and spiritual folklore through the eyes of a child.