This agreeable and thought-provoking dramedy (drama along with comedy) deals with three old man (Federico Luppi, Hector Alterio, José Soriano, all of them providing a new sample of interpretive mastery, entering fully into the characters) and a little boy attempting to protect an old patrimony, La "33", the last train . As they carry out their peculiar subversive adventure aboard a humanized locomotive .This is the story of a machinist , the Secretary , a Professor and a little child that decide to take an old train (with a poster : El Patrimonio No Se Vende) that has been sold to Hollywood , USA, for a movie production. With the machine they travel across the country (Uruguay) trying to getaway to Brazil . In this trip they find really good-natured people that will help them to end their mission.
The Last Train is an enjoyable and comforting epic tale told in a comedy key but with a western texture and in road movie style . It displays a sensitive development and adequate narrative with a political as well as moral message included. Diego Arsuaga has made a film full of mirth and optimism that manages to maintain tension thanks to a solid script and a precise work in directing the awesome actors. But the search for that pure and direct emotion and the strict commerciality that Arsuaga shows for his roles , frequently drags this Uruguayan director towards an easy and effective sentimentality , something that is reinforced by the too predictable conclusion of the story . Therefore, resulting to be an entertaining and charming proposal , but lacking in analytical depth and dramatic subtlety . Arsuaga is right in the construction of the roles and in the elaboration of dialogues loaded with comedy , but it is too simple in the use of certain dramatic resources .
One of the great attractions of the film is its great cast , headed by three great figures of Argentine cinema: Federico Luppi as an old machinist , Héctor Alterio as the veteran professor needing to undergoing a surgical operation due to a serious illness and José Soriano as the Secretary who has Alzheimer . Three veteran actors : Héctor Alterio , Federico Luppi and Pepe Soriano give fabulous interpretations offering convincing enough . They incartanate their characters as extremely and deeply that invite us really to accompany them in. In this sense, it is also necessary to mention the performance of Saturnino Garcia and Gaston Pauls as the intelligent villain of the film and the newcomer little boy Balaram Dinard as Guito going with the three old men and who copes with solvency the slight part of the tale in spite of his short age . Well produced by Gerardo Herrero who was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1994-1994) . Great producer of big hits , being especially known for The Secret of your ears (2009), Sin Retorno (2010) , Balada Triste de Trompeta (2010) , Crimenes De Oxford (2008) and El Hijo De La Novia (2001). He also directed some good films such as ¨Silencio En Nieve¨ , ¨Corredor Nocturno¨ , ¨Principio Arquímedes¨ , ¨Crimen Galindez¨ , ¨Frontera Sur¨, ¨Territorio Comanche¨ , ¨Desvio a Paraíso¨ , ¨Al Acecho¨ and ¨Heroína . While director Diego Usuaga makes a solid film , an interesting proposal suitable for many types of audiences . The film won several prizes and mominations , such as : Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards 2003 Nominee Silver Condor Best Actor Héctor Alterio ,Best Actor Pepe Soriano ,Best Music Hugo Jasa. Ariel Awards, Mexico 2003 Winner Silver Ariel Best Latin-American Film Diego Arsuaga Uruguay. Goya Awards 2003 Winner Goya Best Spanish Language Foreign Film Diego Arsuaga Uruguay. Gramado Film Festival 2003 Winner Audience Award Latin Film Competiton Diego Arsuaga, Winner Special Jury Award Latin Film Competititon Diego Arsuaga, among others .
The Last Train is an enjoyable and comforting epic tale told in a comedy key but with a western texture and in road movie style . It displays a sensitive development and adequate narrative with a political as well as moral message included. Diego Arsuaga has made a film full of mirth and optimism that manages to maintain tension thanks to a solid script and a precise work in directing the awesome actors. But the search for that pure and direct emotion and the strict commerciality that Arsuaga shows for his roles , frequently drags this Uruguayan director towards an easy and effective sentimentality , something that is reinforced by the too predictable conclusion of the story . Therefore, resulting to be an entertaining and charming proposal , but lacking in analytical depth and dramatic subtlety . Arsuaga is right in the construction of the roles and in the elaboration of dialogues loaded with comedy , but it is too simple in the use of certain dramatic resources .
One of the great attractions of the film is its great cast , headed by three great figures of Argentine cinema: Federico Luppi as an old machinist , Héctor Alterio as the veteran professor needing to undergoing a surgical operation due to a serious illness and José Soriano as the Secretary who has Alzheimer . Three veteran actors : Héctor Alterio , Federico Luppi and Pepe Soriano give fabulous interpretations offering convincing enough . They incartanate their characters as extremely and deeply that invite us really to accompany them in. In this sense, it is also necessary to mention the performance of Saturnino Garcia and Gaston Pauls as the intelligent villain of the film and the newcomer little boy Balaram Dinard as Guito going with the three old men and who copes with solvency the slight part of the tale in spite of his short age . Well produced by Gerardo Herrero who was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1994-1994) . Great producer of big hits , being especially known for The Secret of your ears (2009), Sin Retorno (2010) , Balada Triste de Trompeta (2010) , Crimenes De Oxford (2008) and El Hijo De La Novia (2001). He also directed some good films such as ¨Silencio En Nieve¨ , ¨Corredor Nocturno¨ , ¨Principio Arquímedes¨ , ¨Crimen Galindez¨ , ¨Frontera Sur¨, ¨Territorio Comanche¨ , ¨Desvio a Paraíso¨ , ¨Al Acecho¨ and ¨Heroína . While director Diego Usuaga makes a solid film , an interesting proposal suitable for many types of audiences . The film won several prizes and mominations , such as : Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards 2003 Nominee Silver Condor Best Actor Héctor Alterio ,Best Actor Pepe Soriano ,Best Music Hugo Jasa. Ariel Awards, Mexico 2003 Winner Silver Ariel Best Latin-American Film Diego Arsuaga Uruguay. Goya Awards 2003 Winner Goya Best Spanish Language Foreign Film Diego Arsuaga Uruguay. Gramado Film Festival 2003 Winner Audience Award Latin Film Competiton Diego Arsuaga, Winner Special Jury Award Latin Film Competititon Diego Arsuaga, among others .