El Carro (The Car)
Colombia, 2003, 93 min. Directed by Luis Orjuela
El
Carro, one of the biggest Colombian box office hits in the country’s
history, follows the travails of the Velez’s, a typical middle-class
family from Bogotá, as they buy their first car in an attempt to
move up the local social ladder. After the father accidentally gives away
a winning lottery ticket for a new car to the neighbors, the Velez’s
decide to save face and buy their neighbor’s old car — a 1950´s
cherry red Chevy convertible — spending their entire nest egg. First-time
director Luis Orjuela manages to create a hilarious social farce which
portrays such quintessential Colombian experiences as a daughter’s
quinceañera (15th birthday party), Christmas, and the lottery craze
with a rare balance of sympathy and humor.
“Luis Orjuela directs with a sprightly touch, taking palpable pleasure from the antics of his cast and his own infectious enthusiasm.” — Nathan Lee, The New York Times
“Winning, consistently funny comedy, with lively script by veteran Colombian producer/scribe Dago Garcia (Maximum Penalty), The Car is driven by unusually sharp helming from newcomer Luis Orjuela, and a dynamite ensemble cast.” — Ronnie Scheib, Variety
“Slight and sweet, El Carro unswervingly celebrates the family vehicle as a pleasure principle on wheels.” — Tom Beer, Time Out New York
“El Carro boasts a lovable ensemble cast, with a standout performance by Zaira Valenzuela as 14-year-old Paola, she's the family's — and the film's — driving force.” — V.A. Musetto, New York Post
“This good-natured comedy was a huge hit in its native Colombia, and it’s easy to see why: It’s inoffensive, sharply written, and features a genuinely likable cast of characters.” — New York Magazine
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Montréal Film Festival 2004
Chicago Latino Film Festival 2005
Toronto International Latino Fim Festival 2005
Portland International Film Festival 2006