Rating: 
Summary: Best flimsy film of 2003?
Review: How on earth was this film rated best indie film of 2003? I had to play cards just to keep myself amused.
I almost stopped the video to watch CSI on TV ( yes, it was that bad), but perservered in the hope that it (or victor) may redeem itself. Alas, it did not. Boring, but at least it was short.
Rating: 
Summary: UNEXPECTED GEM
Review: I have been going crazy for a few weeks now Tivo-ing shows (just switched to satellite and I'm a little bit overwhelmed with all the channels). I have heard the title of the movie before but have not heard anything about it with the exception of the synopsis, so I took a chance, and WHOA! This movie was great! It reminded me a little of Liberty Heights. I was impressed by the actors--these are the people that should be getting paid, getting roles--they were magnificent. I was laughing so hard and then the tears came. It started when an emotional Victor started speaking Spanish to his Grandmother at the Social Services office. Man, that just about broke my heart. The movie has it all--sweet, touching, hilarious, sentimental, heartbreaking.
Rating: 
Summary: Five Feet High and a little disappointing
Review: I saw the film this is a sequel to, "Three Feet High and Rising" about two years ago, and I think it it is most sincere, moving portrayal of a teenage romance I've ever seen. For anyone who wondered if having a camera, fabulous actors, and a moving story was enough... that film proved it. I lived in New York for many years, had some similar romances (although not really in the same environment) and the film really captured something.
Now we have this feature-length version of the same type of material. This film is also exceedingly well made, full of emotion, and captivating. Victor's relationships are all adequately developed, it explores more manifestations of love, and over a longer period of time, but has missed out on the intimacy of the original short film. This is still a moving piece of work, but I didn't walk away feeling blown away. Maybe that's the curse of shooting such an incredible film beforehand.
The other thing I would say is that I would have enjoyed some of the scenes more if the younger brother had been developed into a substantial character, and the grandmother hadn't been quite as monomaniacal. It seemed a bit too four-walled (is that the right terminology?) at times and lackluster. This is a powerful, intimate style of filmaking and I think that given the strength of these performances the director may have left the camera on a little too long at times, and sacrificed some pacing.
Still, an excellent film, in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I watched this movie and found it enjoyable. It is about a Domincan family living in New York City. It presents a different face to poverty: Victor Vargas, sister and brother, live with their grandmother in poverty, and out of discomforts of poverty, Victor looks for some comfort: love, feelings, peace.
Victor meets a beautiful young lady, played by Judy Marte, and she has never had a boyfriend, so her initially defenses are to protect herself from negative influences. It is her coping strategy to be tough; it is also her personal way of survival in a tough neighborhood.
Victor's grandmother is trying to raise up her grandchildren the only way she knows: with respect, tranquility, morals, religious connection to church and God. Since the povery trap has not given her much else to survive on.
The youths in this movie, Victor and Judy, Judy's friend and her boyfriend, siblings, all, are going through changes: physical, emotional, psychological. They are being true to themselves and are also trying to do what is right, although they have limited understanding of what is in principle right and wrong. They are children..............!
There were a few scenes in which offensive language was used in disturbing ways to degrade Judy which should have not been presented, but this is the world in which they live.
I would definitely recommend this movie to a wider audience. It was worth the purchase and I am sure I will revisit this movie again.
Rating:
Summary: lots of good 'little' stuff
Review: I'm sorry some reviewers found this movie boring. Perhaps they were looking for big exciting things to happen. To those folks, I recommend any one of the hundreds of big movies so prevalent today. RVV is absolutely filled to the brim with little bits played so naturally that they obviously get by the less observant viewers. Cheers to the excellent cast.
Rating:
Summary: I Love Love this movie!!
Review: Maybe because this movie has lots of similarities to my own family, I love it so much. My grandma looks and acts exactlly lick Victor's. I guess you have to growup humble to really appreciate this movie. This is truly a diamond in the rough and by far the best independent film I have ever seen and probably will see in my life!!!
Rating:
Summary: Real
Review: Rasing is a real story about teen in Brooklyn. It's as real as "kids", but without the sex and violence. A great indie film.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic first love
Review: The best indie film of 2003, it's a little bit of everything: coming-of-age, romance, comedy, social commentary, and above all, just plain wonderful. The cast of non-professional actors is superb; their very spontaneity is what endears them to viewers, and it seems most of them even go by their own names. Gramma, from the DR, is raising her 3 grandkids in NY's Lower East side, and she's facing the very devil of a job when all of their hormones start raging at the same time. The central story concerns the blossoming and completely innocent love between Victor and Judy, but there are several side stories: Judy's best friend and her new boyfriend, Victor's plump little sister who's got a lisping kid (Judy's little pre-adolescent brother) madly in love with her, Victor's younger brother who doesn't have a girlfriend - yet - but he's dreaming big-time. And most of all, the beleaguered and excellently portrayed grandmother, Sra. Guzman, who just wants them all to eat dinner together, go to church several times a week, and be a happy family.
Wonderful, feel-good movie with a much sweeter and deeper message than most.
Rating:
Summary: Young innocent romance in idealized urban setting
Review: This 2003 independent film is about young love. It was written and directed by 26-year old Peter Sollett, and has all the earmarks of a fresh young filmmaker. The story is simple. Victor Vargas, played by Victor Rasuk, is a teenage boy who is looking for love. He lives with his grandmother, played by Altagracia Guzman, and his younger brother and sister in a poor, but idealized neighborhood in New York City. His grandmother, who had emigrated from the Dominican Republic years before, clearly loves her grandchildren and does her best to keep the family together. However, she's a little too quick to consider them depraved simply because Victor is romancing a girl and because his younger brother, played by Silvestre Rusuk, is experimenting with is own sexuality behind closed bathroom doors. In an inspired bit of casting, these two real-life brothers look so much alike that it gives the feel of a real family. Victor meets the girl of his dreams, Judy Marte, and they begin a romance. They are both inexperienced and it takes a while for their first kiss. There are a few twists and turns to the plot, and some obstacles which get in the way, but basically it is just a sweet love story. One of the most interesting things about the story though is that there are no guns, drugs or violent acts. They might be living in a neighborhood known for these things but yet they are all remarkably innocent. I enjoyed the film and thought it was well done. But frankly, it was a little too simple for my personal tastes. It seemed to me like amateurs doing their best in a first film. Which, of course, is exactly what it is. I must give the film an "A" for effort though. And I look forward to watching the growth of this filmmaker.
Rating: 
Summary: pretty good film
Review: this film hits home if you had a hands on old school grandmother who was direct about things. there are alot of Complex issues at work through the film.the film deals with various issues&doesn't water down any thing.it's a decent film.
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