A Place in the World
In a remote Argentine valley, a boy’s family and community confront the human cost of progress, power, and political conviction.
Overview
In a remote Argentine valley, an idealistic family faces the encroaching threat of modernity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- reflective
- melancholic
- sincere
- quiet weekend
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a sensitive, beautifully made, politically engaged coming-of-age drama powered by strong performances and compelling ideological conflicts.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Twelve-year-old Ernesto grows up within an idealistic rural community shaped by disputes over land, development, and political commitment.
Hans surveys the valley for a hydro-electric dam that would force local peasants from their land.
Mario, Ana, Ernesto, Nelda, and the surrounding villagers form an emotionally and politically interdependent community.
The Argentine valley is governed by a local patron whose dam project threatens the cooperative and peasant way of life.
Films like A Place in the World, and why
The Official Story
shared coming-of-age drama, rural community setting, political undercurrents, and reflective family relationships
The Motorcycle Diaries
shared Argentine political context, morally engaged drama, and intimate examination of family and ideology
The New Land
shared rural social realism, community conflict, idealism, and emotionally layered parent-child relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Adolfo Aristarain
- Release Date
- 1992-04-09
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (65)
Cast
- Federico Luppi
- Gastón Batyi
- José Sacristán
- Cecilia Roth
- Leonor Benedetto
- Rodolfo Ranni
- Hugo Arana
- Lorena Del Rio
- Mario Alarcón
- Juan José Ghisalberti
Common questions
- What is A Place in the World about?
- In a remote Argentine valley, a boy’s family and community confront the human cost of progress, power, and political conviction.
- What is A Place in the World like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Place in the World as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is A Place in the World violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Place in the World.
- What did critics think of A Place in the World?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a sensitive, beautifully made, politically engaged coming-of-age drama powered by strong performances and compelling ideological conflicts.
- Which films are like A Place in the World?
- Films with a similar feel include The Official Story, The Motorcycle Diaries, and The New Land.
- How long is A Place in the World?
- A Place in the World runs 121 minutes.
