The Mud Boy

The Mud Boy (El niño de barro) is a 2007 Spanish-Argentine thriller drama film directed by Jorge Algora 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.

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. The film was shot in Argentina.

Release
The film was released theatrically in Spain on 18 May 2007. Distributed by Buena Vista, the opening in Argentine theatres was scheduled for 6 September 2007.

Reception
Juan Pablo Cinelli of Página/12 assessed that Algora is right to opt for fiction rather than documentary accuracy.

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".

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".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "17" align = "center" | 2008 || 22nd Goya Awards || Best Original Song || "Pequeño paria" by Daniel Melingo || Nominated || align = "center" |
 * rowspan = "16 | 7th Mestre Mateo Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Won || rowspan = "16" |
 * Best Director || Jorge Algora || Won
 * Best Screenplay || Jorge Algora, Christian Busquier, Héctor Carré || Won
 * Best Actress || Maribel Verdú || Nominated
 * rowspan = "3" | Best Actor || Chete Lera || Won
 * Daniel Freire || Nominated
 * Juan Ciancio || Nominated
 * Best Supporting Actor || Abel Ayala || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallés, Juan Lovece || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Suso Bello || Won
 * Best Editing || Rita Romero || Nominated
 * 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 || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallés, Juan Lovece || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Suso Bello || Won
 * Best Editing || Rita Romero || Nominated
 * 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 || Nominated
 * }
 * 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 || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Sound || Perfecto de San José Prieto, Alberto Suárez || Nominated
 * }
 * }