Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

Director:

Peter Sollett

Writers:

Peter Sollett (story)
Peter Sollett (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

30 May 2003 (Turkey)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

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:

Lower East Side | Dominican | Street Life | Ghetto | Friend

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
Joe Rosario	...	Security Guard
Gladys Austin	...	Social Worker
Jacqueline Rosario	...	Singer

Directed by
Peter Sollett

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Sollett		story
Peter Sollett		written by
Eva Vives		story

Produced by
Jean-Michel Dissard	....	associate producer
Alain de la Mata	....	producer
Scott Macaulay	....	producer
Vincent Maraval	....	executive producer
Robin O'Hara	....	producer
Peter Sollett	....	producer
Cate Wilson	....	line producer

Original Music by
Roy Nathanson

Cinematography by
Tim Orr

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein

Casting by
Ulysses Terrero

Production Design by
Judy Becker

Costume Design by
Jill Newell

Makeup Department
Angela Gallagher	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mariela Comitini	....	second second assistant director
Carrie Fix	....	first assistant director
Michael A. Moffa	....	second assistant director (as Michael Moffa)

Art Department
Jill Alexander	....	property master
Jesse Kaufmann	....	intern
Tyler Q. Rosen	....	property master

Sound Department
Steve Borne	....	sound designer
David Briggs	....	foley editor
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator
Nadine Finzi Maybruck	....	sound editor
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor
Alex Raspa	....	adr mixer
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Noah Timan	....	production sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Burke	....	camera loader
David Elwell	....	best boy electric
Justin Scott Gravatt	....	electrician
Melissa Guimaraes	....	best boy grip
Matthew Hale	....	key grip
Susan Heller	....	electrician
Jude Kiernan	....	camera loader
Scott Miller	....	gaffer
Scott Miller	....	still photographer
Matthew A. Petrosky	....	first assistant camera
Linda Slater	....	second assistant camera
Craig Striano	....	grip
John Woods	....	electrician
Laurie Chakel	....	grip/electric intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy R. Burt	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Katy Skjerping	....	assistant editor (as Katherine Fisher)

Music Department
Tracy McKnight	....	music consultant
Alysia Oakley	....	assistant to music supervisor

Other crew
Scott Burik	....	set medic
Kristen Dubberstein	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeremy Gould	....	location assistant
Eryka Seimona Henderson	....	location manager (as Eryka Seimona)
Matthew Hysell	....	key unit production assistant (as Matt Hysell)
Jesika Khadivi	....	production office intern
Raynelle Irene Mensah	....	set production assistant: re-shoots
Tony Osso	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout
Josiah Silverstein	....	production assistant
Collin Smith	....	location scout
Sally Steele	....	publicist
Bergen Swanson	....	post-production office supervisor
Hope Walter	....	production assistant
Hughroy Williams	....	key location manager

Production Companies

• Canal+
• Forensic Films
• Studio Canal
• Untitled Productions

Distributors

• Mars Distribution (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• 791 Cine (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2003-2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Fireworks Pictures
• Millennium Storm (2005) (Italy) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)

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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Argentina:13 | 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".

Quotes:

Judy: You're so easy to see through, it's embarrassing.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Casado y Cansado (No Puedo Mas)

No Reality Here, Just Pretension

What a bad, bad film!!! I can't believe all the hype that has been lavished on this pretentious, amateurish excuse for a real movie!! I left the theater before the end, stunned by how bad the direction and camera-work of that movie were!! And to read adoring paeans that claim there is truth and reality in this film when all it is in reality is a brazen attempt at pulling the wool over the eyes of reviewers and festivals by being cheap and tawdry.

At least this film showed me once and for all that the Sundance Festival has become a complete joke and that being shown here is more a label of bad film-making than anything else.

Avoid at all costs. You'll want your time back! I know I did.