The Blue Star (film)
2023 film
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The Blue Star (Spanish: La estrella azul) is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Javier Macipe (in his directorial debut feature) inspired by the life of Aragonese musician Mauricio Aznar which stars Pepe Lorente.
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- Simón de Santiago
- Amelia Hernández Causapé
- Hernán Musaluppi
| 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 |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 129 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Spanish |
Plot
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
- Pepe Lorente as Mauricio Aznar[5]
- Cuti Carabajal as Carlos Carabajal[5]
- Mariela Carabajal as Andrea Carabajal[5]
- Demi Carabajal as himself
- Miriam Gutiérrez as Zita Carabajal
- Noelia Verenice Díaz as Florcita Carabajal[5]
- Marc Rodríguez as Pedro[6]
- Bruna Cusí as Ana[5]
- Catalina Sopelana as Mara[5]
- Aitor Domingo as Gabriel
- Pablo Carabajal as himself
- Peteco Carabajal as himself
- Coya Chavero as Atahualpa Yupanqui
Production
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
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]
Cinetren handled distribution in Argentina.[13] The theatrical release in Argentina and Uruguay was set for 12 September 2024.[14]
Reception
Critical response
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".[15]
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".[16]
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".[17]
Alejandro Lingenti of La Nación rated the film 4 out of 5 stars ('very good'), writing that the fiction "intersects opportunely with the documentary to enhance the affective community that existed between the Spanish musician and his warm hosts [from Santiago del Estero]".[18]
In September 2024, the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain selected The Blue Star for a shortlist of 3 films to determine their final submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[19]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Nueva Vision Award for Spain / Latin America Cinema | Won | [20] | |
| 42nd Uruguay International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [21] | ||
| Young Jury Award | Won | ||||
| 29th Toulouse Spanish Film Festival | Golden Violet | Won | |||
| Best Director | Javier Macipe | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Pepe Lorente | Won | |||
| Best Music | Alicia Morote, Peteco Carabajal | Won | |||
| Audience Award | Won | ||||
| 30th Forqué Awards | Best Film | Nominated | [23] | ||
| Best Actor in a Film | Pepe Lorente | Nominated | |||
| Cinema and Education in Values | Nominated | ||||
2025 | 12th Feroz Awards | Best Drama Film | Nominated | [24] | |
| Best Screenplay in a Film | Javier Macipe | Nominated | |||
| Best Main Actor in a Film | Pepe Lorente | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Poster | Laura Pere | Nominated | |||
| 4th Carmen Awards | Best Non-Andalusian Produced Film | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Álvaro Medina | Won | |||
| 80th CEC Medals | Best New Director | Javier Macipe | Won | [26] | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Javier Macipe | Nominated | |||
| Best New Actor | Pepe Lorente | Nominated | |||
| Cuti Carabajal | Nominated | ||||
| Best New Actress | Mariela Carabajal | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Bruna Cusí | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Javier Macipe, Nacho Blasco | Nominated | |||
| 39th Goya Awards | Best Film | Nominated | [27] | ||
| Best New Director | Javier Macipe | Won | |||
| Best New Actress | Mariela Carabajal | Nominated | |||
| Best New Actor | Cuti Carabajal | Nominated | |||
| Pepe Lorente | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Javier Macipe, Nacho Blasco | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Javier Macipe | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Amanda Villavieja, Joaquín Rajadel, Víctor R. Puertas, Mayte Cabrera, Nicolas de Poulpiquet | Nominated | |||
| 33rd Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Minor Role | Catalina Sopelana | Nominated | [28] | |
| Best New Actor | Pepe Lorente | Won | |||
| 8th ALMA Awards | Best Screenplay in a Drama Film | Javier Macipe | Won | ||
| 12th Platino Awards | Best Ibero-American Debut Film | Nominated | |||