User reviews

A dictatorship starts in Argentina, and Harry's family is against nowadays dictator, so, to avoid being killed, they have to hidden in a isolated place. How is this for a typical ten-year-old boy? how can cope with all the things that he is not yet unable to understand? This is the main point of the film, which is moving and interesting. Harry is the main character and he told us the story as he remembers it, so everything is from his point of view, the point of view of a kid that only wants to play and enjoy himself, but he can't due to his situation. The actors (all!) are perfect, with very specially emotive acting of Darin and Roth, how everything is going hell but they don't feel hopeless in any moment, they'll continue fighting until the end. as they take cover in Kamchatka, not the physical place, meaning and spiritual fortress, which is the place to resist, if you are there, anything can destroy you, because you will be free... The history is very interesting and it catches you from the beginning with a very great visual force that makes you to enter in the film and think what you'd do in their situation. As a bad aspects two thing to comment: You are not told what is happening in the world while the film starts, so you must know what happens in Argentina in 1978 in order to understand why are they hiding. In addition, and this is usual in Argentinian films, the rhythm is very very slow, which can bore some people. This time, however, the action demands to be slow, so it is not as bad as some other films. Tu sum up, a precious touching and interesting film of characters and great actors. Recommend to see it with something the dry your tears, they maybe came at some moments of the film.

I've just seen this move, and I think it's wonderful. The performance of Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth is superb. The movie show us how life was in Argentina for dissident people, in the seventies, under the military government. I am not an Argentinian, so I don't know much of its history. If you are like me, I recommend you to read the summary of the movie that is in the Extras section of the DVD, to be acquainted of the political situation in this years. If you are in your late thirties, or even if you are older, you'll also enjoy remembering those old beautiful songs. I thought "Son of the bride" was the best movie of Ricardo Darin, but I was wrong. This movie is as good or better.

This is an engaging tale narrated in sensitivity and intelligence and are treated ethic and moral issues developed in great sense of ductility and fairness . Dealing with the story of a family – Harry, Midget and their parents- , as they go into hiding , being based on the notorious novel written by Marcelo Figueras who breaks down his book 'Kamchatka'. It is set in 1976 , Argentina , there happens a coup d'etat led by General Videla and other officers . Thousands of citizens opposed to military regime are chased and kidnapped , as there are numerous missing people . Ten-year-old Harry , who does not know that Argentina's 1976 coup d'état is impacting his life . After witnessing the "disappearance" of dissident friends , a human rights advocate at law (Ricardo Darín) and his research scientist spouse (Cecilia Roth) take their children from school , Harry and his little brother , leave their home and all of them go to a vacant summer house . They flee the city and hide at a far mansion from the military police . With them are their two kids : Harry (Matia Del Pozo) , who is fascinated with the escape artistry of ¨Harry Houdini¨ , ¨Mandrake¨ and TV series as ¨Roy Thinnes' The Invaders¨ (1967) , ¨Simon Templar's The Saint¨ and along with the little guy (Milton De La Canal) , nicknamed El Enano (The actual translation is "dwarf") , they form a close-knit family living at a hidden house . Both of whom finally learn the meaning of the family and help each other . At the countryside mansion , all of them adopt new identities and try to lead a normal life . Subtly hinted , however, and used as a metaphor , is the mother's constant smoking and El Enano's renewed bed-wetting . After that , at the location placed in city outskirts , they are joined by a young student who is using the alias Lucas (Tomás Fonzi) and he really befriends Harry . Their new life is difficult , but a visit with their estranged grandparents : grandmother(Fernanda Mistral) and grandfather (Héctor Alterio) reveals that they are still an intimate family . As a host of characters , completely change the tedious life of Harry .

Enticing as well as intelligent film plenty of good feeling , sense , deep sensibility as well as a well written script delving into the human psyche , showing how stressful and precarious situation of a beloved family is . Based on Marcelo Figueras' novel "Kamchatka" - who grew up in Argentina and currently lives in Barcelona- , this is his first to be translated into English concerning about the foursome takes on new identities at the beginning of Argentina's Dirty War in 1976 ; the 309-page book is told from Harry's perspective and takes its title from a key territory in the board game Risk . The film is seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy , being an agreeable , quiet film , perfectly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship between parents and children . This is a brooding yarn in which there is a psychologically intense character studio of the likable members of a peculiar family being harassed , chased , pursued by the military regime . The film attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , in spite of the relentless pursuit they suffer , with its amusing sides and dark areas . Trying to be realistic and make everything as in a fairytale but giving way to mirth and humor . In addition , the film gives us a nice panorama about a middle-class family , its pity , goodness, sacrifice , companionship and various situations happen in its existence . Marcelo Piñeyro tries to mix genres ranging from comedy to melodrama with some sensitive touches . The veteran actors , Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth give very good performances . Gentle , sympathetic the little boy played by Matias Del Pozo along with his brother , Milton De La Canal . It is an endearing and intimate film , well directed and well acted by a fine cast , but perhaps fails a little the main protagonist , Harry , whose optimism is as obvious that results to be excessive . Supporting cast is frankly excellent as Tomas Fonzi and aged players as Héctor Alterio and Fernanda Mistral .

Colorful cinematography by Alfredo Mayo , considered to be one of the best Spanish cameraman , author of splendid photographs in notorious films such as ¨Mondays in the sun¨, ¨Kika , ¨High heels¨ , "Sex, Party and Lies" , "The Galíndez File" , ¨Heroína¨ and several others . Lively , moving as well as emotive musical score by Bingen Mendizábal . Adding known songs adapted with roots in popular music of the seventies ; recreating the essence of the epoch with vintage songs , accompanying sensual melodies and lyrics such as ¨Son Tus Perfumes Mujer¨, including some memorable images when the family members dance themselves . The motion picture was well directed by Marcelo Pyñeiro and it was Argentina's official submission for the 2002 Oscar Awards, Foreign Language film category . He was born in 1953 in Buenos Aires, Argentina . Marcelo usually works with his fetish actor , Leonardo Sbaraglia . Piñeyro is a director and writer , especially known for ¨Plata Quemada¨ (2000) and , of course , the big hit : ¨El Método¨ or ¨the Method¨ (2005) . Marcelo has directed the following films -being most of them dramas and thrillers- : 2009 ¨La Viudas De Jueves¨ , 2003 ¨Kamchatka¨ , 2000 ¨Plata Quemada¨ or ¨Burst money¨ , 1997 ¨Cenizas del Paraíso¨ , 1995 ¨Caballos Salvajes¨ and 1993 ¨Tango Feroz¨ . Rating : 7/10 .

This film leaves you all possibilities to form your own impressions. From the beginning till the end there are no data which supply you information about the the characters, what was their fault, what did they do and what would happen after. Still, all these questions are automatically answered when one knows and realizes what was happening in Argentina. The close harmony in which the family lives, the game the father is playing with his son has a educational life value. He will learn how to manipulate and stand in the world when he has grown up. The decision to bring their children to their grandfather,the running after a leaving car, gives you all the reason to use a handkerchief. Who wants to leave his children behind? What will happen to the parents? It is amazing that still today, there are people like Mr Zorrequita who deny that this ever happened. They simply did not know??? Where have we heard this before? A beautiful film. TOP

Marcelo Piñeyro reveals all his quality in this touching story. Darin and Roth are a couple that have to escape from the dictatorship from Argentina, and in this run they must leave all their lives back. Who most suffer this lost are their childrens. The film is touching and emotive. The two child are excellente!!!

This movie exudes the finesse and maturity of Latin American cinema of the new millenium. Long gone is the exploitation of magical realism and the cult of the exotic. The noble savage gives way to universal characters with very complex feelings.

I'm so glad this old baggage of the victim's complex has been checked at the door. The result is a beautiful movie about a family on the run during the 1970's Argentine military junta crack down. Kamchatka is free of the cliches and over-acting of Latin American movies of yesteryear. National identity is no longer the main story line, but rather a subtle backdrop that brings about one of the best stories about political crisis anywhere, the dismembering of a family.

Kamchatka has one of the most arresting final scenes that I have ever seen. This is a grand achievement of Argentine film.

Like "Harry", I always enjoyed playing TEG. If you have never played it, don´t worry, for it´s actually pretty simple: one board with fifty countries, and three or four players trying to control 30 of them to win the game. But Harry has never played with so many people - he just plays with his dad. And when its only two players, it is a fight to the death: all 50 countries or nothing. Harry has never won before, and he is very close to winning - but his dad, controlling this little, obscure region on the edge of the board, this remote place with a tongue twister of a name, Kamchatka, still manages to resist for hours and hours. As Harry will learn later, surviving against all odds is indeed possible... and as he warns us as the movie begins, this will be the last and most memorable lesson he has learned from his father.

A touching tale made up of childhood memories, Kamchatka tells the story of a middle-class couple in Argentina in the mid-70s, during the military dictatorship that horrified and scarred the country. One day, without warning, the couple take their two children to an abandoned house, desperately trying to escape. But of course, the children understand nothing of this - instead they are forced to leave their lives behind and even change their names. The movie cleverly focuses on the older of the two boys, Harry (who actually names himself after Harry Houdini), and suggests the horrors of the period through subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) metaphors, sometimes with a sense of humor you wouldn´t expect for this type of pictures.

The good thing about "Kamchatka" is that it is not a history lesson - you never know exactly what the parents (and the other people that come and go into the children´s lives) did to be hiding, but it doesn´t really matter. What matter is that the film accurately portrays the heartbreaking situation of a man and a woman who do not know if they´ll live to see their children grow, and are still strong enough to fight back and try to smile for them. We don´t know what they did when they left the house every day. We don´t know what happened to their friends and co-workers. We don´t even learn their real names - like so many of the "desaparecidos", they are the anonymous victims of a goverment that almost destroyed a country. We only see the couple through the innocent - but oddly wise - eyes of their children.

Ricardo Darin and Cecilia Roth have once again proved with this movie that they are some of the best actors in Argentina right now - I´ve seen them both in more demanding roles, mind, and this is far from being their best performances... and yet they are both believable and their chemistry with the children is perfect. Director Ricardo Piñeyro knows what he is doing, and it shows: with this type of material it is dangerously easy to fall into the trap of making a cheap melodrama, and yet he manages (for the most part) to avoid making the picture overly sentimental or manipulative. Kamchatka may not be a perfect film, but it´s heart-felt and beautifully filmed.

For viewers who wish to know more about this dark time in Argentina´s history, you may rent the excellent Oscar-winning "The Official Story".

I watched this as part of a film festival 2 years ago and it still lives with me today. As tender and compelling a depiction of love within a family as it is an indictment of the atrocities of the Argentinian police state which left so many unaccounted for. Beautiful, measured acting and direction matched by the cinematography and scripting. The focus on the relationship between the father and his two sons is heart-rending - gentle, subtle details of their bond and love for each other heighten the sense of dread as the net closes in. The final scenes are real, devoid of Hollywood soft-focus sanitising. Behind this story are countless personal tragedies, the realization of which only serves to make the emotions flood deeper still within you. I saw this in Auckland, NZ, and at the end of the screening silence filled the auditorium. No one moved. A small group at the front, one with an Argentinian flag, formed a circle and held a silent prayer together. This is a film of real power, go and see it.

An Argentine husband and wife move into hiding with their two sons and a friend of their's, but why they are hiding is never mentioned. You are only left to assume it has something to do with politics.

The story is more or less told in the older son's point of view --- and he really has no idea why they are hiding --- so I assume that is why the audience doesn't know, either.

The movie mostly revolves around the family bond they have and shows how a family can make it thru some very hard times when they're together.

it was a very enjoyable movie.

An Argentine couple move into hiding with their two sons. Hiding from whom? Why? The movie will not tell us the answer to those questions because that is not what this movie is about. I have to say, though, that I could not stop wondering that through the whole movie.

This movie is the story of how this family fights to overcome obstacles (whatever they might be). The effort parents have to make to provide a happy family live for their kids even when their own personal life is plagued with difficulties. Explained with the simplicity of a nine years old boy's perspective the movie is just beautiful and well done.

Winner of a "Ciguapa de Oro" at the Santo Domingo 5th International Film Festival I highly recommend it to everybody. 8.5 out 10

Kamchatka is a terrible film. I believe what seems to pass for "understated" is its plain dullness, and the main character (a kid whose POV is nominally carrying the movie) doesn't show a single instance of child-like perception - save for a couple of commonplace animal shots, the kid sees the world exactly as the rest of Piñeyro's characters; a polite, well-framed shot by Alfredo Mayo.

Since "Caballos Salvajes" I've been trying to figure out who the bad guys are in Piñeyro's films (back then, bullets always came from outside the frame). I'm sad to report things have gotten even worse, since now we need to resource to _our_ (external) knowledge of the period to understand what's going on. He seems to get away with it because, sadly, not that much happens in the movie, anyway.

Kamchatka might be worth seeing, however, if you're interested in recent developments in the political genre. It was interesting to me how, by trying to detach itself from the political movie tradition, it achieves the complete opposite: this is a film that couldn't possibly make sense unless you are not only aware of the external circumstances that affect the characters but also have already a clear position on the political conflict in case.

As justified as the generic, elegiac tone of the movie may be in the real world, its fictional consequences are devastating. It leaves us with no real characters and not a single dramatic scene proper.

Characters here are archetypes and, most of the time, it's not entirely clear of what. It doesn't help that the movie looks often derivative of other films that have successfully portrayed the specifics of perception in children (the soundtrack mimicking Thomas Newman is particularly painful in that respect).

Piñeyro's former writer (Aida Bortnik, who also wrote The Official Story) used to be quite annoying to me, but at least she seemed to know and like drama as a tool.

The last week I had the great opportunity of seeing one of the most shocking and outstanding movie of the Latin America cinema. I had the luck of seeing "Kamchatka" the Argentinian movie of a family living through the "Dirty War" in the 1970s. Its such a great story because it shows a point of view of the war not ever seen before, it the shows the life of the people hiding and not necessary the actual war. This movie might be very calm and lack of action but it deals with a very harsh theme that is war and it gets its point across very smoothly.

The plot of this story is of a family, that like many others during this war, had to leave their houses and hide away and pray to not get caught by the military. In the "Dirty War", important people and other normal civilians would be kidnapped daily, around 30,00 was the estimate of missing people by the end of the war. The story revolves around the life of this family in their hideout and how they try to live a normal life. To keep themselves safe in their new hideout, this family has to change everyone's name, so we now them by the names they invent, the dad is David Vincent, the mom is just called mom, the oldest kid is called Harry and the little brother is known as 'El Enano'.

The main characters, or the cast, are composed by Ricardo Darín as Dad or David Vincent, Cecilia Roth as Mom Vincent, Matías Del Pozo as Harry, Milton De La Canal as Simón or El enano, and Héctor Alterio as Grandfather. This are not all the actors that were in the movie but this stood out the most. Ricardo Darín (David Vincent) and Cecilia Roth (Mom Vincent) made an amazing job in the acting, they made an excellent job conveying the emotions of the people who lived through this war. Matías Del Pozo or Harry was also outstanding in his acting despite only being 10 years old in the movie.

This movie could have been improved much more in the sense of showing more about the reality of war. Some scenes like when they came back to their runaway house could have been more dramatic in order to get more the attention of the viewer. Other scene where really good and did a great job grasping the attention of the audience such as the dance scene, where we saw how the family kept happy and together throughout those hard times. The scene of the shooting starts is another great example of this scenes that break the tension and show the good side of the story.

"Kamchatka" shows us a very dark theme, war, specially the "Dirty War" but this is not a documentary about this war, it is a movie. Because its a movie, it is made not only to inform but to leave lessons to the audience. A lesson that is clearly shown through out all the movie and in the scenes of the dance and the shooting stars is that there is always light in the the darkest places. This family is living hell but they always find time for each other and to be happy. Another lesson this film conveys is the cruelty in human nature. Again and again it is shown the innocence of this family but this does not stop their horrible persecution.

This movie is directed to any type of audience, it contains from comedy to very serious scenes. It deals with a very complicated theme but it displays it in a very simple way to understand. The lack of action and romance is bad news for young audiences but all the other aspects make this movie a perfect movie for almost anyone. If there had to be a recommendation, mainly this movie would be recommended from young adults and to all type of ages above. This film has a rating of 7.3, a very harsh rating for such a great film but still a very it is a good rating for a Latin American movie.

Or you'll hate or you'll love it, simple as that and I am quite afraid that I rather hate it. The story itself could have been interesting as we follow a couple who have to escape from their hometown (I suppose due to political reasons but that's never been explained) but everything is seen through the eyes of a boy who is called Harry (his new identity) as in his own created world his hero is Harry Houdini. Oh I wish I could escape from sleep during this movie as it's so dull and slowly filmed that you constantly watch the clock till it's going to end. Naaah sorry, films with a different view are always more than wellcome but they must have been made good as well otherwise...yup, otherwise you're bored.