{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = The Mud Boy poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|El niño de barro|nolink=yes}} | released = {{Film date|2007|05|18|Spain|2007|09|06|Argentina|df=yes}} | starring = {{ubl|Maribel Verdú|Daniel Freire|Chete Lera|Juan Ciancio}} | country = {{ubl|Spain|Argentina}} | producer = {{ubl|Susana Maceiras|Harold Sánchez|Fernando Blanco|Adrián Suar|Julio Fernández}} | distributor = {{ubl|Filmax ({{Abbrv|{{Smallcaps|es}}|Spain}})|Buena Vista International ({{Abbrv|{{Smallcaps|ar}}|Argentina}})}} | language = Spanish | writer = {{ubl|Christian Busquier|Jorge Algora|Héctor Carré}} | director = Jorge Algora | music = Nani García | editing = Rita Romero | cinematography = Suso Bello | studio = {{ubl|Adivina Producciones|Iroko Films|Castelao Producciones|Pol-ka Producciones|Patagonik|Televisión de Galicia}} }} '''''The Mud Boy''''' ({{langx|es|'''El niño de barro'''|links=no}}) is a 2007 Spanish-Argentine thriller drama film directed by {{ill|Jorge Algora|es}} which stars Maribel Verdú, Daniel Freire, Chete Lera, and Juan Ciancio.
== Plot == Set in 1912 Buenos Aires against the backdrop of the story of the Petiso Orejudo serial killer, the plot tracks 10-year-old boy Mateo, haunted by nightmares, and the main suspect behind a trail of brutal killings in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/cultura/cine-00128/noticia-jorge-algora-rescata-historia-real-asesino-serie-principios-siglo-xx-nino-barro-20070516142223.html|website=Europa Press|date=16 May 2007|title=Jorge Algora rescata la historia real de un asesino en serie de principios del siglo XX en 'El niño de barro'}}</ref>
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Maribel Verdú as Estela<ref name="filmax">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmax.com/produccion/el-nino-de-barro.185|access-date=31 March 2023|title=El niño de barro|publisher=Filmax}}</ref> * Chete Lera as Dr. Soria<ref name="filmax" /> * Daniel Freire as Comisario Petrie<ref name="filmax" /> * Juan Ciancio as Mateo<ref name="filmax" /> * {{ill|César Bordón|es}} as Octavio<ref name="filmax" /> * {{ill|Abel Ayala|es}} as Cayetano<ref name="filmax" /> * Sergio Boris as Subinspector Palacios<ref name="filmax" /> }}
== Production == A Spanish-Argentine co-production, the film was produced by Adivina Producciones, Iroko Films, Castelao Producciones and Televisión de Galicia, Patagonik and Pol-ka, with backing from INCAA and ICAA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/cine/pesadillas-a-ojos-abiertos-nid940811/|website=La Nación|date=5 September 2007|title=Pesadillas a ojos abiertos}}</ref> The film was shot in Argentina.<ref name="ddleon">{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariodeleon.es/articulo/cultura/a-partir-ahora-solo-voy-hacer-cine-emocione-verdad/20070603020000905013.html|website=Diario de León|title=A partir de ahora sólo voy a hacer cine que me emocione de verdad|date=3 June 2007|first=Pacho|last=Rodríguez}}</ref>
== Release == The film was released theatrically in Spain on 18 May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/metropoli/2007/05/18/cine/1179439208.html|website=Metrópoli|date=18 May 2007|via=El Mundo|first=Javier|last=Estrada|title=Llegué a un punto en que no aceptaba un papel si no me apasionaba}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a12424/el-nino-de-barro/|website=Fotogramas|title=El niño de barro}}</ref> Distributed by Buena Vista, the opening in Argentine theatres was scheduled for 6 September 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latamcinema.com/avalancha-de-estrenos-nacionales-en-la-cartelera-argentina/|website=Latamcinema|date=6 September 2007|title=Avalancha de estrenos nacionales en la cartelera argentina}}</ref>
== Reception == Juan Pablo Cinelli of ''Página/12'' assessed that Algora is right to opt for fiction rather than documentary accuracy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/espectaculos/5-7550-2007-09-07.html|website=Página{{!}}12|first=Juan Pablo|last=Cinelli|date=7 September 2007|title=La naturaleza del monstruo}}</ref>
Jonathan Holland of ''Variety'' considered that "the excesses of the story are reined in by intelligent treatment, with thoughtful perfs, fine period atmospherics and a well-achieved sense of dread making up for occasionally clunky direction and loose scripting".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/the-mud-boy-1200558006/|website=Variety|title=The Mud Boy|date=9 July 2007|first=Jonathan|last=Holland}}</ref>
Parana Sendrós of ''Ámbito Financiero'' deemed the film to be worth your time, considering that the balance is positive "due to the way [the film] is made, the intelligence with which it tells the story, and the light it sheds on the always current issue of the treatment of children".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ambito.com/espectaculos/inteligente-relato-un-mitico-asesino-serial-n3448911|website=Ámbito Financiero|first=Parana|last=Sendrós|date=6 September 2017|title=Inteligente relato sobre un mítico asesino serial}}</ref>
== Accolades == {{Awards table|5}} |- | rowspan = "17" align = "center" | 2008 || 22nd Goya Awards || Best Original Song || "Pequeño paria" by Daniel Melingo || {{nom}} || align = "center" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariodepontevedra.es/articulo/cultura/nocturna-de-filmax-gana-el-goya-la-mejor-pelicula-de-animacion/20080204023500150228.html|website=Diario de Pontevedra|date=4 February 2008|title='Nocturna', de Filmax, Goya a la mejor película de animación}}</ref> |- | rowspan = "16 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || {{won}} || rowspan = "16" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://premiosmestremateo.gal/a-academia-galega-do-audiovisual-anunciou-esta-mana-a-listaxe-de-nomeados-aos-premios-mestre-mateo-2007/|website=Academia Galega do Audiovisual|access-date=31 March 2023|title=A Academia Galega do Audiovisual anunciou esta mañá a listaxe de nomeados aos Premios Mestre Mateo 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/actualidad/o-neno-barro-arrasa-premios.html|website=Público|date=16 April 2008|title="O neno de barro" arrasa en los premios del cine gallego con nueve Mestre Mateo}}</ref> |- | Best Director || Jorge Algora || {{won}} |- | Best Screenplay || Jorge Algora, Christian Busquier, Héctor Carré || {{won}} |- | Best Actress || Maribel Verdú || {{nom}} |- | rowspan = "3" | Best Actor || Chete Lera || {{won}} |- | Daniel Freire || {{nom}} |- | Juan Ciancio || {{nom}} |- | Best Supporting Actor || Abel Ayala || {{nom}} |- | Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallés, Juan Lovece || {{nom}} |- | Best Cinematography || Suso Bello || {{won}} |- | Best Editing || Rita Romero || {{nom}} |- | Best Music || Nani García || {{won}} |- | Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Beata Wojtowicz || {{won}} |- | Best Costume Design || Cecilia Monti || {{won}} |- | Best Art Direction || Mariela Rípodas || {{won}} |- | Best Sound || Perfecto de San José Prieto, Alberto Suárez || {{nom}} |}
== See also == * List of Spanish films of 2007 * List of Argentine films of 2007
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Spanish crime thriller films Category:Spanish crime drama films Category:Spanish psychological thriller films Category:Argentine psychological thriller films Category:Argentine crime thriller films Category:Argentine crime drama films Category:Films set in 1912 Category:Films set in Buenos Aires Category:Films shot in Argentina Category:2007 Spanish-language films Category:2007 Argentine films Category:2007 Spanish films Category:Castelao Producciones films {{DEFAULTSORT:Mud Boy, The}}