The Dancer and the Thief

The Dancer and the Thief
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl baile de la victoria
Directed byFernando Trueba
Screenplay by
Based onEl baile de la victoria
by Antonio Skármeta
Produced byJessica Berman
Starring
CinematographyJulián Ledesma
Edited byCarmen Frías
Production
company
Fernando Trueba PC
Distributed byNotro Films
Release date
  • 27 November 2009 (2009-11-27) (Spain)
Running time
127 min
Countries
  • Spain
  • Chile
LanguageSpanish

The Dancer and the Thief (Spanish: El baile de la victoria) is a 2009 drama film directed by Fernando Trueba. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by author Antonio Skármeta. It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Plot

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Following the 1988 national plebiscite and the arrival of democracy in Chile, the president declares a general amnesty for all prisoners who were convicted of non-violent crimes.

Among these released prisoners are the young Ángel Santiago and the veteran Vergara Grey, a notorious thief. The two have different aspirations: while Vergara Grey only wishes to reunite with his family and start anew, Ángel dreams of seeking revenge against the prison warden and carrying out a major heist with Grey. However, Ángel's plans change when he meets the young Victoria, a ballet dancer who hasn't spoken since losing her parents as a child during the Chilean dictatorship.

The lives of all three characters are irreversibly transformed as they face a new future.

Cast

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Production

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Adapting the Antonio Skármeta's novel El baile de la Victoria, Fernando Trueba, Jonás Trueba and Skármeta himself collaborated in the writing of the screenplay.[1] The film was produced by Fernando Trueba P.C.[2] Shooting started in Chile in July 2008.[3]

Trueba said of the film: “I am proud of how I have portrayed [Santiago], I believe it is very interesting visually. This is above all a romantic film, but with elements of comedy and film noir. It’s film-noir and it is western, it’s realist and very romantic. Definitively Latin American.”[4]

Release

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Distributed by Notro Films,[2] the film was theatrically released in Spain on 27 November 2009. The film was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards,[5] but it was not nominated.

Reception

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Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2010 24th Goya Awards Best Film Nominated [6][7]
Best Director Fernando Trueba Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Antonio Skármeta, Fernando Trueba, Jonás Trueba Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Ricardo Darín Nominated
Best Production Supervision Eduardo Castro Nominated
Best Editing Carmen Frías Nominated
Best Art Direction Carmen Frías Nominated
Best Costume Design Lala Huete Nominated
Best Sound Pierre Gamet, Nacho Royo-Villanova, Pelayo Gutiérrez Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Herrero, Rafael (25 November 2009). "Fernando Trueba: «Las películas pasan su examen cuando transcurren 25 años»". Hoy.
  2. ^ a b Audiovisual, Panorama (29 September 2009). "'El baile de la Victoria', candidata por España a los Óscar". Panorama Audiovisual.
  3. ^ "Se inicia rodaje de "El baile de la Victoria" de Antonio Skármeta". El Mostrador. 28 July 2008.
  4. ^ Fernando Trueba: "Estoy orgulloso de cómo he retratado Santiago" latercera.com por Marisol García - March 07, 2009 - retrieved on April 18, 2015
  5. ^ España nomina al Oscar a El baile de la victoria, basada en obra de Skármeta latercera.com by D. P. A. - September 29, 2009 - retrieved on April 18, 2015
  6. ^ "El baile de la victoria". premiosgoya.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. ^ Premios Goya 2010 EDICIONES EL PAÍS, S.L. retrieved on April 18, 2015
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