Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

Director:

Peter Sollett

Writers:

Peter Sollett (screenplay)
Peter Sollett (story)

Release Date:

30 May 2003 (Turkey)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Plot:

A Lower East Side teen-ager struggles to find some sanity while surrounded by an eccentric grandmother, a crazy new girlfriend, and a longing younger brother.

Plot Keywords:

Masturbation Reference | Friend | Brother Brother Relationship | Caught Masturbating | Church

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Victor Rasuk	...	Victor Vargas
Judy Marte	...	'Juicy' Judy Gonzalez
Melonie Diaz	...	Melonie
Altagracia Guzman	...	Grandma
Silvestre Rasuk	...	Nino Vargas
Krystal Rodriguez	...	Vicki de la Cruz
Kevin Rivera	...	Harold
Wilfree Vasquez	...	Carlos
Donna Maldonado	...	Fat Donna
Alexander Garcia	...	Al
John Ramos	...	Macho
Theresa Martinez	...	Judy's Mom
Randy Luna	...	Pool Boy #3
Jeff Knite	...	Pool Boy #4 (as Jeff Asencio)
Juan I. Lebron	...	Israel

Also Known As:

Long Way Home (France)
Raising Victor Vargas (Canada: English title) (festival title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

The film's working title was "Long Way Home".

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Casado y Cansado (No Puedo Mas)

Shows how to make a really bad film

First of all, write the script on a napkin. Who needs more than that? After all we're not a Hollywood film.

Then get amateur actors. It will be good for the festival hype. After all, who needs people who have spent years honing their craft? Then, hire a cinematographer who doesn't know how to light. You see, if it's well-lit, it won't look "real" and the festival people won't like it. Who needs to have professional level photography anyway? Then hire a ten-year old who has never held a camera to be your operator. It will give your movie that completely amateurish touch that festival screeners will mistake for "reality" and guarantee that even though you will empty the seats from real people, critics and a small sliver of the audience who over-intellectualize will scream "genius" because they won't believe this was just complete amateur-hour.

Once you've done that, buy your ticket to the Festival of Bad Movies aka Sundance.

What a sad waste.