Panama will send "Birthday Boy" to the Oscars
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:22PM by Nathaniel R
Panama is fairly new to the Oscar game. They've been submitting since 2014 and last year they got close to a nomination for the first time with a finalist spot for Abner Benaim's Plaza Catedral. This year they're submitting Cumpleañero (or Birthday Boy) starring Albi De Abreu. While we don't yet know what it's about (though those of you who know Spanish can see the trailer here) the Spanish-language poster (to the right) is very intriguing with its upside down solo figure in the waves above group joy and it's tagline "Suffering is not an option." This is the second submission for Panama from director Arturo Montenegro after the trans drama Everybody Changes (2019). He's now tied with Abner Benaim as the most often submitted Panamanian director.
Albi De Abreu, Arturo Montenegro, Birthday Boy, Panama
Reader Comments (5)
Ok, my Spanish is a little rusty, but is this movie supposed to be a remake of La Piscine/A Bigger Splash? Swinging couples, a beach house, a murder? Well, the idea must be the same, but I got Adrian Lyne vibes - less classy than Deray/Guadagnino, I mean.
cal -- i dont think so... watching the trailer and trying to glean stuff I think it's about a suicidal man throwing a party for himself
according to my caveman spanish the question at the beginning is "what would you be capable of doing for your best friend?" but after that everyone is talking too fast for my limited translation skills
Cumpleañero (Birthday Boy) is about a man who gathers his friends at a house near the beach to celebrate his birthday but then announces that after his birthday he is going to commit suicide due to illness thus shocking everyone.
This is the second time that a film directed by Arturo Montenegro will go to the Oscars. The director who has been entered the most times for the Oscars is Abner Benaim three times (Invasion, Ruben Blades Is Not My Name, Plaza Catedral.
Greetings everybody,
The trailer with english subtitles is here:
https://youtu.be/TsOmsfT7j0w