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Carlos Padilla, Leonor Varela, Gustavo Munoz, Jose María Yazpik, Ofelia Medina ... see more see more... , Daniel Jiménez Cacho , Jesus Ochoa , Jorge Angel Toriello , Adrian Alonso , Andres Marquez , Alejandro Felipe Flores , Ana Paulina Cáceres , Xuna Primus , Paulina Gaytan Ruíz , Alan Andreé , Gustavo Sanchez Parra , Hector Jimenez , Guillermo Ríos , Lourdes Villareal , Ania Yarasech , Prisiliana Hernández , Aurelio Perea Morales , Luisa Garza , Alberto Lara , Filomena Hernández , Lucila Castrejón , Jonathan Morales , Daniela Varela , Rene Hernandez , Jennifer Cuevas , Gilda Navarrese , Margarita Mandoki , José Augustín Flores , Manuel Zorrilla , Antonio García , Juan Carlos Luna , Félix Johannes , Isabel Galván , Juan Navarrese Aquino , Luis Gonzágo Padilla , León Rafael , Penny Redman , María Antonia Ruíz , Nayeli Tiapa , Claudia Suárez , Rafael Moya , José Gabriel Marín , Analí Bravo , Karla M Gonzlez , Esther Galván , Edgar Leonel Mencos , Amelia Contreras , M De Los Angeles Osuna , Enrique Suárez , Javier Mercado , Ernesto Mejía , Enrique Carrillo , Javier Pedraza , Victor , Pablo Caves , Yazpik Ofelia , Medina Daniel , Pilar Padilla , Daniel Gimenez Cacho

The bloody civil war which tore apart El Salvador in the 1980s is seen through the eyes of a young boy in this drama from director Luis Mandoki. Chava (Carlos Padilla) is 11 years old and growing up i... read more read more...n a small town in El Salvador where the fighting between rebels and government troops is a daily fact of life. Chava's father has abandoned the family, leaving him behind as the man of the house while his mother (Leonor Varela) and sister try to maintain a normal life by day while dodging bullets by night. Chava's 12th birthday is coming up, which puts the boy in a dangerous position -- at 12, he'll be old enough to join the army and be used as cannon fodder against the rebels, so he and his classmates try to find out when military recruiters will be coming to their schools so they can plan to be absent that day. However, as Chava faces both danger and adventure in his little town, the war edges in closer all the time until it can't be avoided any longer. Voces Inocentes (aka Innocent Voices) was the first Spanish-language film in 18 years for director Mandoki, who came to the United States after the international success of 1987's Gaby: A True Story. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

93% liked it

6,323 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

48 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Luis Mandoki

Release Date: October 14, 2005

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DVD Release Date: October 9, 2007

Stats: 553 reviews

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Chava 'Voces Inocentes' 'Voces Inocentes' Leonor Varela Voces inocentes, (Innocent Voices) Voces inocentes, (Innocent Voices)
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Flixster Reviews (553)

  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    This is a very moving story based around kids in this war torn country, and what they have to go through to stay alive. This is a very well done film.
  • flixsterman
    August 16, 2009
    flixsterman
    Gripping anti-war offering from director Luis Mandoki. Innocent Voices shows us the civil war in El Salvador through the eyes of a child. Mandoki presents a harsh but accurate indictment of the war and of the U.S. involvement in it.
  • Nutterjr
    November 8, 2010
    Nutterjr
    I am surprised that having witnessed a true story about a boy losing his innocence during the civil war in El Salvador with grueling pictures of the atrocities of war and the things a 11 year old goes through, I did not quite feel overwhelmed.
  • mvieaddict
    June 1, 2009
    mvieaddict
    The story of a 11-year-old boy and his family who lived in El Salvador during the civil war. When you see this film, you see war from a human sight rather than political. The normal life, childhood innocence and the cruelty of war is what makes this film so real.

    This film shoul... read mored be viewed by all people around the world and it is like campaign against any kind of war. All wars can only bring disaster and suffering to people, even to the innocence,such as children. I believe there is always a way out for every problem.
    I highly recommend it because of the message the film brought in and for how amazingly well made it is. See this film.
  • Chapsky
    April 26, 2011
    Chapsky
    A breathtaking film. I love Latin American films. And this one is really good. Child actor's performance is incredible. And Leonor Varela is a seductive beauty. I add her films to my own list of things to see soon.
  • lennyd44
    August 16, 2009
    lennyd44
    Powerful and emotional film. Based on a true story set in El Salvador during civil war. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy. Fantastic character development and terrific acting from Padilla . As a filmmaker, Mandoki understands daily struggle and tragedy very well,... read more he was able to utilize them effectively throughout the movie. This is as raw and as close as you can get to reality for some countries, in this case El Salvador.
  • kirkkwilliams
    September 5, 2008
    kirkkwilliams
    This may be the saddest film I have ever seen. Its straightforward, storyteller presentation from a child's perspective is so powerful, no arcs or twists are required.
    The emotional performances are so deep, they are almost physically painful to watch. Not a date movie by any m... read moreeans, but it's one I won't forget.
  • ecurb3811
    July 1, 2008
    ecurb3811
    Though it is subtitled because it's in Spanish, and I had to read the entire movie. It's worth it. The story, the acting, it was all very good.
  • flixsterbum
    April 7, 2008
    flixsterbum
    Heartbreaking, powerful drama about the war in El Salvador. Director Mandoki gets an amazing performance out of Carlos Padilla as Chava, the young boy who witnesses the bloodshed and terror of the children caught in the crossfire of the government soldiers and the guerillas. Hi... read mores performance is authentic and amazing. A beautifully made, heartwrenching film.
  • Lissa420
    December 3, 2007
    Lissa420
    This is a heart wrenching movie about a young boy Chavo who is caught in a civil war in El Salvador.
    Chavo is a sweet boy who became the man of the house at 11 when his father left as soon as war broke out. He must protect his sister and brother, hiding them under the bed when m... read moreachine gun bullets shoot throughout his village.
    He is still able to enjoy some of his childhood, playing with his friends and falling in love for the first time.
    Sadly that is as far as his childhood goes as the fighting worsens and he must run to save his life.
    I thought it was great acting by the little boy Carlos Padilla, he showed the emotions so well.
    I will agree this movie is similar to City of God since it shows young boys brought into violence at such a young age. However, this movie doesn't progress into the grown up version.
    The scene where all the boys are hiding on the roof tops was what did it for me.
    Scary to think this happened in the 1980s and boys taken in by armies to fight against each other still happens to this day.

View All Voces inocentes, (Innocent Voices) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
October 21, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Effective without being overwhelming. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
October 20, 2005
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

In the best parts of Innocent Voices, we experience both war's tragedy and its sometimes weird exhilaration -- with innocent clarity. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
October 14, 2005
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Mandoki, who with this film returns to the Spanish-speaking cinema after a string of Hollywood films, has brought a sure sense of the visual and taut construction to Innocent Voices. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
October 14, 2005
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

The many riveting moments will stay with you for days, and Padilla is well up to the task of carrying this intense story on his tiny shoulders. Full Review

Steven Rea
October 14, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

It's a harrowing tale, but one that gets phonied up with unnecessary slo-mos, manipulative soundtrack cues, and unrestrained thespianism.

Stephen Whitty
October 14, 2005
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

This isn't only slightly simplistic politics, it's bad drama. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
October 14, 2005
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

Mandoki never passes up a chance to increase the schmaltz level, but that doesn't lessen the impact of this harrowing account of a hellish childhood.

Ruthe Stein
October 14, 2005
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

A movie with a long echo. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 14, 2005
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie wastes no time pulling you in. Full Review

Wesley Morris
October 14, 2005
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Innocent Voices is one of those movies whose heart is in the right place, but its treatment just feels wrong. Full Review

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