Vale (2015) Poster

(I) (2015)

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7/10
A Light-Hearted Little Romance
rvf35-11 January 2018
There's not much substance to this short, but I certainly enjoyed watching beautiful people in a prettier-than-a-postcard setting. Victor likes the new American friend Rachel that his gang of friends has brought into the fold during their summer vacation. The problem is that Rachel knows no Spanish and Victor knows almost no English. To make matters worse, one of the guys in the gang is good-looking and speaks very good English. So how does our charming if tongue-tied protagonist connect with the pretty American?

Nothing profound nor anything complicated in this short. The reason to watch it, in my opinion, is the deft comic touch and boyish charm of Quim Gutierrez, who plays the somewhat bumbling romantic lead. "Vale" is fluff, but we all need a bit of pleasant fluff every once in a while.

Final note: the short was sponsored by a brand of beer, and the product placements are constant throughout the 10-minute short. It never gets annoying, but if you know to expect it, it's probably easier to ignore.
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4/10
Forgettable attempt at romance and comedy from a director who should know better
Horst_In_Translation6 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is a 10-minute (12 with credits) short film written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar. The Chilean-born filmmaker has worked on some of the most impactful Spanish-language film in the last 20 years and here, he comes up with a work that is even about the language to some extent. Dakota Johnson plays the female lead and she is still really famous because of "50 Shades of Grey". Male lead Quim Gutiérrez is probably only known to Spanish audiences. His character has an interest in Johnson's, but sadly she speaks no real Spanish and he speaks almost no English. Next we find out, how the male lead finds out all random facts about movies, music, theatre etc. before the two are united in the end. Not such a great film in my opinion. Not bad either and the music is nice sometimes, but as a whole it did not succeed for me as either a comedy or a romance movies. Of course, it would have helped if we hadn't seen Gutiérrez' character sleep around with other women before finally being united with his right one at the end. Certainly killed some of the romance. All in all, not recommended.
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8/10
A warm hearted film exploring friendship and what can happen when you just say "vale"!
paul-1892015 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Vale" - Spanish for "OK"

Yes it's a break from Alejandro Amenábar's previous work but his portrayal of young, Mediterranean life during the summer holidays is perfectly placed, and will relate to many as they think back to at least one summer in their younger days.

Dakota Johnson as Rachael provides the essential Lost in Translation moment that affords the light-hearted comedic stream between her and her new Spanish friends, who enjoy giving her a tour of the best parts of Ibiza. As with any Mediterranean story there must be some romance and Victor provides the obvious choice as the man who will attempt to win Rachael's heart.

What follows is not in fact a film about a young American on a European voyage of discovery, more so this is a story about young love and the gentle coming of age and maturity on Victor's part, as we see through flashbacks how each time he has said "vale" has led him to the point where he meets Rachael, and could well be about to embark on his most important love affair yet.

Vale doesn't try to be something amazing, and in doing so succeeds perfectly in telling a wonderful tale of summer time experiences, leaving me smiling and longing for Spanish food, beer and sun.
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nice
Kirpianuscus7 September 2022
It is an Estrella Damm film and you discover this scene by scene. But it is just seductive, in soft way, by the simple story, the feelings of Victor - inspired acted by Quim Guttierez - by the atuu beating the linguistic obstacle and by the atmosphere of gang of friends, the new girl, the films references and the nice last scene.

A film charming for its flavors , for the embroidery of similitarities with another other films using same ingredients, for Dakota Fanning and for the walk, for a form of ingenuity - just precious - for end ( sure, pure commercial but not bad option ), fair used by the simple story, fair acting and the behavior of teenager of Quim Gutierrez.

So, another fair and sweet Estrella Damm film.
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