HISTORIAS MINIMAS
Year: 2002
UK: Optimum Releasing
Cast: Javier Lombardo, Antonio Benedictti, Javiera Bravo, Francis Sandoval, Carlos Montero, Anibal Maldonado, Maria Rosa Cianferoni, Mariela Diaz, Maria del Carmen Jimenez, Mario Splanguno, Julia Solomonoff, Armando Grimaldi, Cesar Garcia, Laura Vagnoni, Rosa Valsecchi, Silvia Fontelles, Rosario Vera, Enrique Otranto
Director: Carlos Sorin
Countries: Argentina / Spain
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
UK: 92 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language
UK Release Date: 25 July 2003
Synopsis
Thousands of miles south of Buenos Aires, three characters are travelling the lonely routes of Southern Patagonia.
Don Justo (80), a retired owner of a general store that his son now manages, has escaped from custody looking for his missing dog that someone has reported seeing in San Julian. He hitchhikes, trusting that the truckers he knew from before, will give him a lift. While getting closer to the reunion with his dog, Don Justo lets slip some information that makes us suspect that something odd has happened. Finally, we discover that more important than finding his dog is for him to find peace of mind before his death.
Roberto (40) a travelling salesman, makes the same journey in his old car, carrying an inconvenient load: a cream cake specially ordered for the birthday of the son of a young woman, the widow of one of his clients in the area. Roberto's plan, following techniques he has read in marketing books, is to appear at the widow's house by surprise, with the unexpected birthday cake, making a favourable impression on her, thus securing his success when he confesses his utter intentions of becoming her life partner.
That very same day and along the very same route, Maria Flores (25) travels with her baby girl. She travels by public transport. A very poor woman who has found out she has won a TV contest, whose first prize is a multiprocessor. Though she doesn't really know what it is, she lives from borrowing from others and cannot even afford food, Maria decides to set out on her journey to the remote and fascinating world of television.
Although each one of them travels on their own, their stories and dreams interlink during the various pauses along the deserted Patagonic routes.
HISTORIAS MINIMAS is also the winner of several awards: Grand Coral - Second Prize - Havana Film Festival, Fipresci Award - Special Mention - San Sebastian International Film Festival, Special Prize of the Jury - San Sebastian International Film Festival, Regard D'Or - Fribourg International Film Festival.