Simón
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDiego Vicentini
Written byDiego Vicentini
Produced byJorge González
Marcel Rasquin
Diego Vicentini
StarringChristian McGaffney
CinematographyHoracio Martinez
Edited byDiego Vicentini
Music byFreddy Sheinfeld
Production
company
Black Hole Enterprises
Release dates
Running time
99 minutes
CountriesVenezuela
United States
LanguagesSpanish
English
Budget35,756 $ (crowdfunding)
Box office282,432 $ (Venezuela)

Simón is a 2023 drama film written, directed, co-produced and edited by Venezuelan filmmaker Diego Vicentini. It is about a young Venezuelan protester, Simón, who after being arrested and tortured during protests in Venezuela flees the country and seeks asylum in Miami, where he must decide whether to stay in the city or return to Venezuela. The feature film has received multiple awards, including Best Feature Film at the Venezuelan Film Festival. Simón was nominated to the 38th Goya Awards in the Best Ibero-American Film category.

Plot

During the protests in Venezuela, Simón (Christian McGaffney) and his companions are arrested and tortured. Forced to flee Venezuela, he becomes an asylum seeker and heads to Miami. Immigration informs him that once he is granted asylum, he will not be able to return to his country. Simón faces both trauma and guilt and must make the decision whether to stay in Miami and start a new life or return home to face tyranny.[1]

Cast

  • Christian McGaffney as Simón
  • Roberto Jaramillo as Chucho
  • Jana Nawartschi as Melissa
  • Franklin Virgüez as Colonel Lugo

Production

The director, Diego Vicentini, produced a short film of the same name about the protests in Venezuela in 2017, as part of his thesis for his master's degree in film at the Los Angeles Film School. The short was released in 2018 in eight countries and Vicentini decided to turn it into a feature film in the face of the unexpected reception. For the role of the protagonist, the director originally needed a bilingual Venezuelan in his twenties, which limited the options. Already knowing Christian McGaffney from the short film, he was sure he would be the ideal person for the role.[2] Vicentini commented that he chose the name "Simón" to "attribute Bolívar's mythology to all these young people who are anonymous".[3] In 2019, Vicentini and Marcel Rasquin (also a film director who was later producer of Simón) began fundraising to make a feature film of the story.[2] Simón is Diego Vicentini's debut feature film.[1][4] He had written a total of 18 versions of the script prior to choosing a final version.[5]

The shooting of the feature film coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant several logistical complications: the cast and crew were tested every three days, the use of masks was strict and the set was sterilized between scenes, representing additional and unforeseen costs for the production. In addition, there was the risk of the lead actor Christian McGaffney getting sick, resulting in the modification of a scene set in a crowded Miami nightclub, with the scene reducing the amount of extras from 250 to 30. The film was shot over the course of 28 days in 23 different locations.[2]

The prison setting was filmed in Redland, near Homestead, in southern Florida, where there is an abandoned city with deteriorating buildings. Actor Franklin Virgüez commented in an interview that he used the Stanislavski method to film the interrogation scene: when he moved from Barquisimeto to Caracas, he initially lived on a shanty house in Monte Piedad, on a hill where rats abounded and where he developed a phobia of them, so he imagined rats on Christian during the scene to evoke the desired emotions.[6] The film also features a character inspired by Rufo Chacón, a 20-year old protester who lost both eyes after being shot with pellets in the face by police officers.[7]

Release

Simón's screening on 13 September 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

The feature film premiered on 15 April 2023 at the Florida Film Festival in Orlando,[1][2] and was subsequently screened at the Dallas International Film Festival.[2] The movie premiered in July 2023 at the Venezuelan Film Festival.[8]

Two days before its commercial release, Venezuelan outlets reported that a complaint was filed against the film in Venezuela's Public Ministry to prevent it from being screened in theaters, accusing it of promoting violence in the country.[9][10] The following day, director Diego Vicentini announced that up to that date, he and his team had not received any notification or complaint against its screening in Venezuela and that the premiere was still scheduled for the same date.[10]

Simón was commercially released on 7 September 2023 in Venezuela,[11] in at least 34 theaters nationwide.[12] For its international premiere, tickets in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and New York were sold out days before its screening. In Madrid, it became the Venezuelan feature film with the largest screening in Spain, with over 1,000 tickets sold.[12][13]

Reception

Simón was nominated for the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Florida Film Festival and won the Audience Award Winner for Best International Narrative Feature at the Dallas International Film Festival.[14][15] At the Venezuelan Film Festival, the film received multiple awards, including "Best Feature", "Best Director", "Best Supporting Actor" (for Franklin Virgüez), "Best Cinematography", "Best Editing" and "Best Screenplay".[8][16][17]

The Venezuelan Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences chose Simón to represent Venezuela in the 38th Goya Awards.[18] On 30 November, Simón was officially nominated to the 38th Goya Awards in the Best Ibero-American Film category.[19][20][21]

Luis Bond, from Diario las Américas, gave the film a 4 out of 5 rating and wrote: "It talks to us about the need to forgive —and forgive ourselves— to move forward, pointing out the fine line between running away and moving forward, resignation and acceptance, forgiveness and forgetting".[22] Abhishek Sharma, in Film Threat, rated the movie 8/10 and said: "Simón leaves us with a strong message that relays the hard-hitting reflection on reality."[23] Mike Massie wrote that the film was "not particularly creative, artistic, or original", though he noted that it was "a rare theatrical examination of tremendously important international conflicts and notions, which ought to be seen, even if the entertainment value of this specific project is medial", rating the film 6/10.[24] In The Independent Critic, Richard Propes stated that "McGaffney gives a riveting performance destined to be one of the year's finest."[25] Alan French, from Sunshine State Cineplex, wrote: "With a story as important as this one, Simón needed to show the true horrors of the dissident experience. Along the way, Vicentini proves himself one of the best young filmmakers on the rise."[26]

By August 2023, Simón had a 100% perfect score in Rotten Tomatoes. According to El Nacional, it was arguably the first time that a Venezuelan film achieved said feat.[27]

The film was not chosen as the country's candidate for the Academy Awards, obtaining 10 votes in favor, 12 against and two abstentions. After the announcement, Diego Vicentini stated in October 2023 that he was disappointed with the decision, arguing that the film had the merits to be a candidate and that irregularities happened during the selection process, declaring that he and his team received reports that part of the selection committee, traditionally made up of members of the Venezuelan filmmakers' guild, consisted of unknown persons this year. Vicentini continues saying that the reports described the debate as irregular, with a block of members unwilling to listen to arguments in favor of Simón and even silencing someone who wanted to speak in favor of the film. In addition, the committee included Ray Ugencio, first assistant director of the film chosen as a candidate, The Shadow of the Sun, creating a conflict of interest.[28][29] The president of the selection committee, Ignacio Castillo Cottin, has reaffirmed the decision taken by the committee.[30]

However, Vicentini also published a video clarifying that his intention was not to harm the film The Shadow of the Sun, but to criticize the National Association of Cinematographic Authors (ANAC), in charge of the selection process, apologizing for the negative effect that his complaint could have.[31][32]

On 25 September 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the United States (the Oscars) asked to add the film's screenplay to its permanent library collection.[33][34] In October, Simón was awarded the Grand Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the Heartland International Film Festival.[35][36]

By the end of the year, the film had become the highest-grossing film in Venezuela in the last six years, since 2016, after Papita 2da base.[37][38]

Accolades

Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
2023 Dallas International Film Festival Best International Narrative Feature Simón Nominated
Florida Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
Heartland International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
Venezuelan Film Festival Best Feature Film Won
Best Director Diego Vicentini Won
Best Supporting Actor Franklin Virgüez Won
Best Cinematography Horacio Martínez Won
Best Editing Diego Vicentini Won
Best Screenplay Won
2024 38th Goya Awards Best Ibero-American Film Simón Nominated

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gonzalez, Leandro (24 March 2023). "Christian McGaffney le tira a Venezuela con esta película estadounidense". Revista Ronda (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Freitas, Alba (14 April 2023). "Simón, un grito de libertad para sanar". El Nacional. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Blanca, Julio (22 April 2023). "Película Simón, estrenada con éxito en Miami el 15Abr". Observador Latino. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Película Simón con Christian McGaffney pasarán en Florida". 800Noticias. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Diego Vicentini: "Simón muestra heridas silenciosas y profundas que todos compartimos"". El Estímulo. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Franklin Virgüez: "Al gobierno no le conviene prohibir Simón"". El Estímulo. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Zambrano, Francisco (16 September 2023). "Diego Vicentini: "Ha sido una sorpresa que Simón no haya sido censurada"". Runrunes (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2023. Hay un personaje que es un homenaje a Rufo Chacón, espero que a todos los venezolanos les recuerde a Rufo, quien es uno de los miles que han sufrido a manos de este régimen.
  8. 1 2 González Mendoza, Isaac (14 July 2023). "Simón gana los premios a Mejor Película y Mejor Director del Festival del Cine Venezolano". El Nacional. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Quieren censurar la película "Simón" para evitar su estreno" [They want to censor the movie "Simón" to prevent its release]. Tal Cual (in Spanish). Por Mi Madre. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Lo que sabemos de la supuesta denuncia en contra de la película "Simón"" [What we know about the alleged complaint against the movie "Simon".]. Cazadores de Fake News. 12 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Simón llega a las salas de cine en septiembre". El Nacional (in Spanish). 31 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Simón, la cinta que triunfa en Venezuela y también agota las entradas en el extranjero" [Simón, the film that triumphs in Venezuela and also sells out abroad]. Correo del Caroní (in Spanish). El Impulso. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "'Simón' arrasa en el exterior: se agotaron las entradas en cuatro ciudades" ['Simon' sweeps abroad: sold-out in four cities]. El Pitazo (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Movie Review: Simón". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Best of DIFF 2023". Dallas Film. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  16. ↑ Fernández, Valeria (14 July 2023). "Película "Simón" arrasa en el Festival de Cine Venezolano". Mundo Unión Radio. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Película "Simón" arrasa en Festival de Cine Venezolano con 4 premios". Diario La Verdad. 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "Simón representará a Venezuela en los Premios Goya". El Nacional (in Spanish). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Nominada a los Goya "Simón", la cinta que plasmó la represión a protestas en Venezuela". Runrunes. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Película "Simón" competirá por Venezuela en los Premios Goya". Tal Cual. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Película Simón es nominada a los premios Goya". El Pitazo. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Simón: tragedia, diáspora y perdón". Diario las Américas (in Spanish). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Simón". Film Threat. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  24. ↑ Twins, The Massie (2 May 2023). "Simon (2023) - Movie Review / Film Essay". Gone With The Twins. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "The Independent Critic - Movie Review: Simón". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  26. ↑ French, Alan (15 April 2023). "2023 Florida Film Festival: 'Simón' - A Powerful Story of Venezuelan Dissident". Sunshine State Cineplex. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "Simón llega a las salas de cine en septiembre". El Nacional. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  28. ↑ B, Andreína (29 September 2023). "Director de la película Simón denunció irregularidades en el proceso de selección a los Premios Oscar". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  29. ↑ Zambrano, Francisco (29 September 2023). ""Simón" quedó fuera del Oscar y denuncian irregularidades en selección de película que representará a Venezuela". Runrunes. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  30. ↑ Sánchez Amaya, Humberto (7 October 2023). "La sombra del sol, la venezolanidad en una película". Crónica Uno. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Director de película «Simón» se disculpa: «Pude haber sido más cuidadoso con mis palabras»". El Pitazo. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  32. ↑ Rivas, Elías (2 October 2023). "Director de "Simón" pide disculpas por efecto negativo de su denuncia a "La Sombra del Sol"". El Cooperante. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "El guión de Simón estará en la biblioteca permanente de los Oscar". El Nacional. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  34. ↑ Castro, Marcela (26 September 2023). ""Simón" llegará a los Oscars: el guion estará disponible en la biblioteca de La Academia". El Cooperante. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "Heartland International Film Festival Winners Announced for 2023 Including Simón and We Dare to Dream". MovieMaker. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  36. ↑ Trueba, Clara (16 October 2023). "Película Simón ganó premio Heartland en Indianapolis". Somos Tu Voz (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  37. ↑ Brizuela, Ariany (31 October 2023). "Diego Vicentini: Quiero que Simón sea recordada como el registro de algo que quedó en el pasado". El Nacional. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  38. ↑ "'Simón', la película más taquillera y premiada en Venezuela, candidata a los Goya y los Forqué - Cine y Tele". Cine&Tele. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

Further reading

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