The Mud Boy

The Mud Boy (Spanish: El niño de barro) is a 2007 Spanish-Argentine thriller drama film directed by Jorge Algora [es] which stars Maribel Verdú, Daniel Freire, Chete Lera, and Juan Ciancio.

The Mud Boy
Theatrical release poster
Spanish	El niño de barro
Directed by	Jorge Algora
Written by	Christian Busquier Jorge Algora Héctor Carré
Produced by	Susana Maceiras Harold Sánchez Fernando Blanco Adrián Suar Julio Fernández
Starring	Maribel Verdú Daniel Freire Chete Lera Juan Ciancio
Cinematography	Suso Bello
Edited by	Rita Romero
Music by	Nani García
Production companies	Adivina Producciones Iroko Films Castelao Producciones Pol-ka Producciones Patagonik Televisión de Galicia
Distributed by	Filmax (es) Buena Vista International (ar)
Release dates	18 May 2007 (2007-05-18) (Spain) 6 September 2007 (2007-09-06) (Argentina)
Countries	Spain Argentina
Language	Spanish

Plot

Set in 1912 Buenos Aires against the backdrop of the story of the Petiso Orejudo serial killer, the plot tracks 10-year-old boy Mateo, haunted by nightmares, and the main suspect behind a trail of brutal killings in the city.^[1]

Cast

• Maribel Verdú as Estela^[2]
• Chete Lera as Dr. Soria^[2]
• Daniel Freire as Comisario Petrie^[2]
• Juan Ciancio as Mateo^[2]
• César Bordón [es] as Octavio^[2]
• Abel Ayala [es] as Cayetano^[2]
• Sergio Boris as Subinspector Palacios^[2]

Production

A Spanish-Argentine co-production, the film was produced by Adivina Producciones, Iroko Films, Castelao Producciones and Televisión de Galicia, Patagonik and Pol-ka, with backing from INCAA and ICAA.^[3] The film was shot in Argentina.^[4]

Release

The film was released theatrically in Spain on 18 May 2007.^[5][6] Distributed by Buena Vista, the opening in Argentine theatres was scheduled for 6 September 2007.^[7]

Reception

Juan Pablo Cinelli of Página/12 assessed that Algora is right to opt for fiction rather than documentary accuracy.^[8]

Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that "the excesses of the story are reined in by intelligent treatment, with thoughtful perfs, fine period atmospherics and a well-achieved sense of dread making up for occasionally clunky direction and loose scripting".^[9]

Parana Sendrós of Ámbito Financiero deemed the film to be worth your time, considering that the balance is positive "due to the way [the film] is made, the intelligence with which it tells the story, and the light it sheds on the always current issue of the treatment of children".^[10]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2008	22nd Goya Awards	Best Original Song	"Pequeño paria" by Daniel Melingo	Nominated	[11]
	7th Mestre Mateo Awards	Best Film		Won	[12][13]
	Best Director	Jorge Algora	Won
	Best Screenplay	Jorge Algora, Christian Busquier, Héctor Carré	Won
	Best Actress	Maribel Verdú	Nominated
	Best Actor	Chete Lera	Won
		Daniel Freire	Nominated
		Juan Ciancio	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actor	Abel Ayala	Nominated
	Best Production Supervision	Eduard Vallés, Juan Lovece	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Suso Bello	Won
	Best Editing	Rita Romero	Nominated
	Best Music	Nani García	Won
	Best Makeup and Hairstyles	Beata Wojtowicz	Won
	Best Costume Design	Cecilia Monti	Won
	Best Art Direction	Mariela Rípodas	Won
	Best Sound	Perfecto de San José Prieto, Alberto Suárez	Nominated

See also

• List of Spanish films of 2007
• List of Argentine films of 2007

References

1. "Jorge Algora rescata la historia real de un asesino en serie de principios del siglo XX en 'El niño de barro'". Europa Press. 16 May 2007.
2. "El niño de barro". Filmax. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
3. "Pesadillas a ojos abiertos". La Nación. 5 September 2007.
4. Rodríguez, Pacho (3 June 2007). "A partir de ahora sólo voy a hacer cine que me emocione de verdad". Diario de León.
5. Estrada, Javier (18 May 2007). "Llegué a un punto en que no aceptaba un papel si no me apasionaba". Metrópoli – via El Mundo.
6. "El niño de barro". Fotogramas.
7. "Avalancha de estrenos nacionales en la cartelera argentina". Latamcinema. 6 September 2007.
8. Cinelli, Juan Pablo (7 September 2007). "La naturaleza del monstruo". Página|12.
9. Holland, Jonathan (9 July 2007). "The Mud Boy". Variety.
10. Sendrós, Parana (6 September 2017). "Inteligente relato sobre un mítico asesino serial". Ámbito Financiero.
11. "'Nocturna', de Filmax, Goya a la mejor película de animación". Diario de Pontevedra. 4 February 2008.
12. "A Academia Galega do Audiovisual anunciou esta mañá a listaxe de nomeados aos Premios Mestre Mateo 2007". Academia Galega do Audiovisual. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
13. ""O neno de barro" arrasa en los premios del cine gallego con nueve Mestre Mateo". Público. 16 April 2008.