Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

96% of critics liked it
(106 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(5,607 ratings)

Victor (Victor Rasuk), a horny teenager living on Manhattan's Lower East Side, has an afternoon rendezvous with a girl known as "Fat Donna" (Donna Maldonado). When his sister, Vicki (Krystal Rodriguez), finds out about it, she spreads word throughout the neighborhood, severely damaging what Victor… More Victor (Victor Rasuk), a horny teenager living on Manhattan's Lower East Side, has an afternoon rendezvous with a girl known as "Fat Donna" (Donna Maldonado). When his sister, Vicki (Krystal Rodriguez), finds out about it, she spreads word throughout the neighborhood, severely damaging what Victor thinks is his reputation. Then he and his best friend, Harold (Kevin Rivera) visit the public pool, where Victor spots the lovely Judy (Judy Marte), known locally as "Juicy Judy," and he decides to salvage his good name by pursuing her. While Judy is standoffish, Harold has better luck with her friend, Melonie (Melonie Diaz of Double Whammy). Judy's shy younger brother, Carlos (Wilfree Vasquez) agrees to help Victor get close to Judy if Victor will introduce him to Vicki. As Victor clumsily, but doggedly pursues her, Judy decides to let Victor think he's her boyfriend, in the hope that his presence will discourage neighborhood boys from harassing her all the time. Victor's strict grandmother (Altagracia Guzman) is furious when she learns that Victor introduced Vicki to a boy, and she also worries about his influence on his goody-two-shoes younger brother, Nino (Rasuk's real-life brother Silvestre). Writer/director Peter Sollett's feature debut is an expansion of his original short, Five Feet High and Rising, which featured many of the same actors. Sollett had his mostly non-professional cast improvise much of their dialogue. Raising Victor Vargas was shot by Tim Orr, who also lensed David Gordon Green's feature debut, George Washington. Raising Victor Vargas was shown at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and at New Directors/New Films. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Peter Sollett
Written By: Peter Sollett
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 28, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Aug 26, 2003
Studio: Fireworks Pictures

Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
A marvel of closely observed, intimately captivating moments.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
It is throughly involving, depicting the real and recognizable frustrations of teenagers and the grown-ups who have responsibility for them.
John Anderson, Newsday
Real, sweet and often really sweet.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
In Raising Victor Vargas, everyone has feelings.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The narrative is thin, but the little-known cast (who helped writer-director Peter Sollett develop the characters) bring an element of realism to roles that defy stereotypes and pigeonholing.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
A satisfying motion picture that wins its audience over because the characters are allowed to be themselves.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
Writer/director Peter Sollett refreshingly avoids placing characters into lazy traps of pregnancy, betrayal or violence. These are intelligent, thoughtful teenagers whom you'll fondly remember as struggling through desires and instincts.
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative
ultimately, it lacks the backbone, the thematic heft, to be anything beyond a sweet redemption story
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
"Was it funny when you pissed in my shoes or tried to cut my hair?"
Matt Kelemen, Las Vegas CityLife
Sollett isn't crusading or exploiting the kids' sex lives. His approach is reminiscent of John Cassavetes's Shadows in its emphasis on sibling bonds and improvised dialogue.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Better than many other films in the dreaded 'coming-of-age' genre, but is not exceptional.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
Even though Raising Victor Vargas offers a fairly standard teen love story, it's also a solid, intriguing look at an immigrant family in New York.
Marcy Dermansky, About.com
Peter Sollet's "Raising Victor Vargas" is a special film, independent in the truest sense of the word.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Idrees K

Much like it's main character, it charms you until you love it.
Thomas J

Wonderfully acted coming of age story for a small family that learns living life has to be taught to the matriarch of the family first. Cute story told from a different perspective than most have live but still a story many will relate to.
paul s

Perhaps because I came to this film with very high expectations (96 on the Tomato-meter) I ended up very disappointed, at times wondering, in spite of the very nice performace by the lead, why this film was made? I mean, what did it have to offer that was original or inventive?… More
Perhaps because I came to this film with very high expectations (96 on the Tomato-meter) I ended up very disappointed, at times wondering, in spite of the very nice performace by the lead, why this film was made? I mean, what did it have to offer that was original or inventive? Nada. The film had so much of a been there, seen that, aspect that I became only vaguely interested in the blossoming love story, or in that of any of the other peripheral charactors. Though real for the most part, I didn't like the way Victor was ridiculed for hanging with a "fat girl", and how Victor later kept making references to his younger sister as "she got fat" said with real derision. While perhaps culturally accurate, perhaps the script would have been better served if the point was for Victor to rise above the obvious - but that would be a totally different (though perhaps better) film. There were some nice and true moments - the way the female lead used Victor as a "beard" to ward off the advances of other over-agressive males; or the side story of both leads best friends slowly exploring their physicality. However, what is the point - haven't we seen all this before? It has been said that this film is a "revelation" as far as its portrayal of NYC burough kids - but again - been there, seen that - for example - Summer of Sam. I dunno, I just couldn't get behind the film. There were too many kind of huh? moments - for example, what the heck is beer doing in the home of Victor's strict grandma - not likely would be an understatement - especially when the apartment only has grandma and three underaged children living in it. Then there's the family reconcilliation scene where they all go to church and pray that the family stays together - I get the message, you don't have to show grandma and ALL THREE kids buying a candle - boy did that slow down the pacing. This leads to the ending where Victor tells his girl that the reason he invited her to "his" place for dinner with the family was because he wanted to show her that his family was "who he is"... hmm, ok, I'll buy that, but again, it was just another flat scene that somehow didn't deliver the emotional punch that it should have. Ditto for the entire film unfortunately.
Michael S

After watching this film for the second time, my opinion really hasn't changed; still REALLY overrated.
Leigh R

Cute and weird. But worth the watch.
Drew S

I'm sure this movie has been called "honest" or "authentic" like five million times, but it's an excellent descriptor for it. It is a simple film, but avoids the Independent Cinema Delusion of substituting meaning for inertia. It's inventive and fun,… More
I'm sure this movie has been called "honest" or "authentic" like five million times, but it's an excellent descriptor for it. It is a simple film, but avoids the Independent Cinema Delusion of substituting meaning for inertia. It's inventive and fun, allowing its drama to be tempered with a sense of humor and light yet believable characters. Man, I wrote a much better review of this for class. Fuck this shit.
Red L

Teen hormones and love in hot New York. Victor has to balance his desire to seduce Judy with the fact that his Grandma will kick him out if he tries any funny business. The fact that the actors are amateurs results in a very moving film.
Mark A

Interesting, slow paced film about some Latino kids struggling to find their way through a world foreign to this viewer's experience. This is a coming-of-age film that treats its subject matter with a genuine heart to get it right. The actors are refreshingly honest, if slightly… More
Interesting, slow paced film about some Latino kids struggling to find their way through a world foreign to this viewer's experience. This is a coming-of-age film that treats its subject matter with a genuine heart to get it right. The actors are refreshingly honest, if slightly unpolished. The story didn't need polish, however. What it had going for it was a strong sense of the family as the central unit of this society and a brutally honest portayal of life in the barrio in New York City. At times painful to watch, the characters still had the power to engender pathos for their situation and the fumbling toward relationships. Learning to trust means occasionally getting hurt, and these kids know this in a way that few of us can comprehend.
Sunil J

A great indie movie about summer love in the Lower East Side.
Sarah P

Surprisingly sweet film about the awkwardness of teens gorwing up while trying to be cool.