Machuca
Seen it?2004 | 116 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 56 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Santiago, capital of Chile during the Marxist government of elected, highly controversial president Salvador Allende. Father McEnroe supports his leftist views by introducing a program at the prestigious "collegio" (Catholic prep school) St. Patrick to allow free admission of some proletarian kids. One of them is Pedro Machuca, slum-raised son of the cleaning lady in Gonzalo Infante's liberal-bourgeois home. Yet the new classmates become buddies, paradoxically protesting together as Gonzalo gets adopted by Pedro's slum family and gang. But the adults spoil that too, not in the least when general Pinochet's coup ousts Allende, and supporters such as McEnroe.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.7 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
2 wins and 2 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$3 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 19K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Andrés Wood
- Matías QuerGonzalo Infante
- Ariel MatelunaPedro Machuca
- Aline KüppenheimMaría Luisa
- Ernesto MalbránFather McEnroe
- Federico LuppiRoberto
- Manuela MartelliSilvana
- Tamara AcostaJuana
- Francisco ReyesPatricio Infante
- Alejandro TrejoWilly
- María Olga MatteMiss Gilda