Heroic (film)
| Heroic | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | David Zonana |
| Written by | David Zonana |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Santiago Sandoval Carbajal |
| Cinematography | Carolina Costa |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Wild Bunch |
Release date |
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Running time | 88 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Box office | $1,7 million[1] |
Heroic (Spanish: Heroico) is a 2023 drama film written, directed and produced by David Zonana. An international co-production of Mexico and Sweden, it stars Santiago Sandoval Carbajal.
The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2023.[2]
Premise
Luis, an Indigenous 18-year-old boy, encounters an institutionally violent system inside the Heroic Military College, which he enters in hope of a better future.
Cast
- Santiago Sandoval Carbajal as Luis
- Esteban Caicedo
- Fernando Cuautle
- Mónica del Carmen
- Carlos Gerardo García
- Isabel Yudice
Release
Heroic had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2023.[2] It was also screened in the Panorama section at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023.[3] The film was awarded the Havana Star Prize for Best Film at the 24th Havana Film Festival New York in April 2024.[4]
Prior to its release, Wild Bunch acquired its distribution rights.[5]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.[6]
Erin Brady from /Film wrote: "Heroic is likely a movie that won't work for everyone, as a few intentionally horrifying moments of casual brutality will have viewers squirming. However, by utilizing the camera as an intensely rigid weapon, the film drives home its intentions in a way that's neither overbearing nor vague. It is a powerful example of the power of visual storytelling, of allowing the technical aspects of movies to tell a painful story in a way mere words cannot."[7] Meanwhile, Jordan Mintzer from The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "There are no real surprises in Heroic, which sets its course to hell in the opening scene and follows a straight path there for the next 90 minutes. We learn little about Luis beyond the fact that his dad, who abandoned the family, was a soldier as well, or that his mother’s cancer is the only reason he entered the academy."[8]
References
- ^ "Heroic". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ a b Goodfellow, Melanie (17 January 2023). "'Heroic' Clip: David Zonana's Sundance Drama Explores Culture Of Violence In Mexico Through Tale Of Indigenous Conscript". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Koziol, Leo (22 February 2023). "Broken Men: David Zonana's Heroic marches from Sundance to the Berlinale". Letterboxd. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Mexico's HEROIC Wins Top Prize for Best Film at the Havana Film Festival New York". Cinema Tropical. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (8 February 2023). "Wild Bunch International goes full steam ahead towards Berlin". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Heroic". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Brady, Erin (2023-01-20). "Heroic Review: A Visually Striking Drama Examining The Horrors Of Military School [Sundance]". /Film. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (2023-01-21). "'Heroic' Review: A Stark and Unsettling Drama Exploring Abuse in the Mexican Military". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
External links
- Heroic at IMDb
- Heroic at Rotten Tomatoes