''Tango Feroz: la leyenda de Tanguito'' ( es, Wild tango: the legend of Tanguito) is a 1993 Argentine

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

musical film directed by

Marcelo Piñeyro Marcelo Piñeyro (born March 5, 1953) is an Argentine award-winning film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Biography Born in Buenos Aires, Piñeyro studied cinematography at the University of La Plata's School of Fine Arts. In 1980 ...

, his debut film. It is loosely based in the life of

Tanguito José Alberto Iglesias (September 16, 1944 – May 19, 1972), better known as Tango or its diminutive Tanguito or Ramses VII, was an Argentine rock singer-songwriter. Born into a working-class family from western Greater Buenos Aires, he began ...

, one of the first artists of

Argentine rock Argentine rock (known locally as ''rock nacional'' , "national rock" in the sense of "local", "not international") is rock music composed or performed by Argentine bands or artists mostly in Spanish. Argentine rock began by recycling hits of Engl ...

("Tanguito" is just a stage name, neither the artist nor the movie are related with

Tango music Tango is a style of music in or time that originated among European and African immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay (collectively, the " Rioplatenses"). It is traditionally played on a solo guitar, guitar duo, or an ensemble, k ...

). Fernan Mirás and Cecilia Dopazo, unknown to most spectators by that point, had the lead roles and became famous after the film's release. It was the most successful Argentinian movie of all time. ''Tango Feroz'' centers on Tanguito's

drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use oft ...

, his love relationship with Mariana, his friendship with Mauricio "Moris" Birabent, his madness and final years. The film does not include any of the songs written by the real Tanguito, such as his iconic " La balsa", as Piñeyro could not acquire the rights for doing so. Instead, it uses many other classic songs of

Argentine Rock Argentine rock (known locally as ''rock nacional'' , "national rock" in the sense of "local", "not international") is rock music composed or performed by Argentine bands or artists mostly in Spanish. Argentine rock began by recycling hits of Engl ...

. Ulises Butrón sang the hit song written for the movie, "El amor es más fuerte" ( es, Love is stronger), in the scenes played by Mirás as well as the soundtrack.

Cast

Fernán Mirás Fernán Gonzalo Mirás (born July 17, 1969) is an Argentine film and television actor and film director. He is sometimes credited as Fernando Mirás. Career He debuted in theater at the play ''El protagonista'', in 1989. In 1993 he starred i ...

* Cecilia Dopazo as Mariana * David Masajnik as Ruso *

Imanol Arias Manuel María Arias Domínguez (born 26 April 1956 in Riaño, León, Spain) better known as Imanol Arias, is a Spanish actor and film director. Career Imanol Arias began his career with a travelling theatre group performing in the Basque Co ...

as Ángel * Cristina Banegas as Mariana's mother * Antonio Birabent as Mauricio 'Moris' Birabent *

Leonardo Sbaraglia Leonardo Máximo Sbaraglia (; born 30 June 1970) is an Argentine actor, with extensive credits in both Argentina and Spain. He has also worked in Mexico, and was cast in his first English-language role in '' Red Lights''. Biography Sbaraglia was ...

as Pedro *

Federico D'Elía Federico D'Elía is an Argentine actor. He is a Golden Martín Fierro award Golden means made of, or relating to gold. Golden may also refer to: Places United Kingdom *Golden, in the parish of Probus, Cornwall *Golden Cap, Dorset *Golden Squa ...

Héctor Alterio Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born 21 September 1929) is an Argentine theatre, film and television actor, well known both in Argentina and Spain. Biography Alterio's theatre debut came in 1948 as the lead in ''Cómo suicidarse en prima ...

as Lobo *

Ernesto Alterio Ernesto Federico Alterio Bacaicoa (born 25 September 1970) is an Argentine-Spanish film, theatre, and television actor. Early life Alterio is the son of psychologist Modesta Ángela Bacaicoa Destéfano and actor Héctor Alterio Onorato. His ...

* Carola Molina * Humberto Serrano * Mirna Suárez

Reception

In its opening weekend, ''Tango Feroz'' grossed $249,111 from 45,203 admissions at seven screens in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

, the biggest Argentine opener of the last 10 years. The film grossed $4,225,000 in Argentina, a record for an Argentinian film at the time, and was the second highest-grossing for the year behind '' Jurassic Park'' with $4.6 million.

Awards

''Tango Feroz'' won the 1994 Argentinian Film Critics Association Awards for Best First Film and Best Music. It was also nominated as Best Film, but didn't get the award.

also won the 1993 Torino International Film Festival of Young Cinema in the International Feature Film Competition, and got the second place at the 1993

Havana Film Festival The Havana Film Festival is a Cuban festival that focuses on the promotion of Latin American filmmakers. It is also known in Spanish as ''Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana,'' and in English as International Festiva ...

References

External links

* 1993 films Argentine biographical films Films shot in Buenos Aires 1990s Argentine films {{1990s-Argentina-film-stub