Blame It on Fidel
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Drama film |
Blame It on Fidel () is a 2006 drama film co-produced by France and Italy, directed by Julie Gavras. The screenplay adapts Domitilla Calamai's novel. Leading roles are portrayed by Nina Kervel-Bey, Julie Depardieu, and Stefano Accorsi.
The narrative delves into a spectrum of beliefs—including Communism, Catholicism, and assorted mythologies—while the young protagonist develops her own worldview amidst political turmoil.
Plot
Set in 1970-71 Paris, nine-year-old Anna de la Mesa witnesses profound transformations as her parents embrace radical activism. Her father Fernando, a Spanish-born attorney motivated by resistance to Franco and the Chilean election of Salvador Allende, abandons his profession to aid Chilean exiles in France. Meanwhile, her mother Marie, formerly a Marie Claire journalist who chronicled women's abortion experiences, becomes involved in the movement. Anna’s previously affluent lifestyle undergoes significant change, adjusting to refugee caretakers, diverse international dishes, and a bustling apartment inhabited by revolutionaries.
Cast
- Nina Kervel-Bey as Anna de la Mesa
- Julie Depardieu as Marie de la Mesa
- Stefano Accorsi as Fernando de la Mesa
- Benjamin Feuillet as François de la Mesa
- Marie Kremer as Isabelle
- Raphaël Personnaz as Mathieu
- Carole Franck as Sister Geneviève
- Martine Chevallier as Bonne Maman
- Olivier Perrier as Bon Papa
Release
Blame It on Fidel debuted at the Deauville American Film Festival on 10 September 2006 and was subsequently released in French cinemas on 29 November 2006. The North American release followed on 3 August 2007.
Box office
During its initial weekend, the movie garnered $9,004, placing it at number 64 in the domestic box office rankings. It accumulated $168,065 in U.S. theaters and $1,192,178 internationally, resulting in a global total of $1,360,243.
Critical reception
With an approval rating of 93% from 45 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Metacritic score of 74/100, the film received generally positive critical acclaim.
External links
- 2006 films
- 2000s historical drama films
- French historical drama films
- Italian historical drama films
- 2000s French-language films
- Films set in Paris
- Films set in 1970
- Films set in 1971
- Films set in the 1970s
- Films shot in France
- Films shot in Paris
- Films shot in Spain
- Gaumont (company) films
- 2006 drama films
- 2000s French films
- Films scored by Armand Amar
- French-language Italian films