Clandestine Childhood
A clandestine Argentine family tries to preserve a boy’s first love and ordinary adolescence while political repression makes every identity dangerous.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- tender
- tense
- reflective evening
- historical cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film's emotionally charged political coming-of-age perspective, though the limited aggregate scores indicate a divided response.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Juan is known as Ernesto at school while living under an assumed identity with his family.
School, friendship, and first love are constantly constrained by the family's clandestine political existence in 1979 Argentina.
Juan's relationship with María is presented as an experience of love amid secrecy and state repression.
Juan navigates school and family clandestinity while the larger political threat remains only partially comprehensible to him.
Films like Clandestine Childhood, and why
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation
coming-of-age drama shaped by political repression, family secrecy, and tender first love
Machuca
political persecution intersecting with childhood innocence, family trauma, and historical memory
A World Apart
intimate historical drama about adolescence, clandestine identities, and authoritarian violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Benjamín Ávila
- Release Date
- 2012-09-16
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (63)
Cast
- Ernesto Alterio
- Natalia Oreiro
- César Troncoso
- Teo Gutiérrez Moreno
- Cristina Banegas
- Mayana Neiva
- Douglas Simon
- Violeta Palukas
- Candelaria Irigoyen
- Lucas García
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Clandestine Childhood about?
- A clandestine Argentine family tries to preserve a boy’s first love and ordinary adolescence while political repression makes every identity dangerous.
- What is Clandestine Childhood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Clandestine Childhood as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Clandestine Childhood violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Clandestine Childhood as mild.
- What did critics think of Clandestine Childhood?
- Critics broadly recognized the film's emotionally charged political coming-of-age perspective, though the limited aggregate scores indicate a divided response.
- Which films are like Clandestine Childhood?
- Films with a similar feel include The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, Machuca, and A World Apart.
- How long is Clandestine Childhood?
- Clandestine Childhood runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Clandestine Childhood?
- In United States, Clandestine Childhood is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
