elvinrstudent To me this film caught my attention in romance because even though the victor wanted to go out with Judy, victor never gave up kept trying fight for what you truly want that like in the path of God but you gotta fight to the very end but not with you strengthen but with Gods when you really have something in front of God a blessing to get it you have to be obedient living in holiness looking for him in spirit and truth each day and also interest me that in the end victor got with Judy even though Judy didn't want to get close to him cause she was scared but it kinda like the word of God but the word of God is better it breaks threw and change and restore.Real interesting the location of where it is that my hometown i lived near but i remember me being in love i used to do everything i could o take care of her buy her a lot of things also running like 12 blocks just to pick her up from school each day were always together but in the end i broke her heart, sad but you learn what you had into you lose it life is full teaching but each teaching you learn from your decisions and each outcome is your decision cant blame no one else if your decision wasn't in their hands

AsifZamir I love this movie and thought it was very well done. It doesn't just have to be enjoyed by specific race of people like some other reviewers are suggesting, it can be enjoyed by any intelligent person.Anyone who's grown up in poverty, raised by grandparents or guardians can appreciate this heart wrenching movie.Instability, poverty, trying to get by while still performing your responsibilities (school, chores etc) are themes of Raising Victor Vargas. Of course I loved Judy Marte's performance and will now watch any movie that she's in.A lot of people live this way, and it's increasing all over. Unless we get back to a place where there is stability in families, Raising Victor Vargas will not just be a movie, it will become a documentary.

Ian Young Incredibly intriguing and captivating, I found it impossible to turn away once I began to watch. I am usually one of the harshest critics but to me this film was just brilliant, strange as this may sound I could almost smell the air and feel the textures of the locations. From a cinematographic I thought there was great use of light and texture. From the orange glow of the summer light, down to the plastic wrapped couch all had a distinct air of realism to me.From a character perspective I thought the notion of Victor Vargas as almost the glue that connects the story was quite inspired, each of the other members of the family having a more complete background simply caused greater intrigue in the main character himself.Beyond that, having known someone just like the grandmother and having been on the receiving end of just such a situation, I can say the situation felt particularly realistic. The awkwardness, the accent, the cooking and even down to the comments made felt so authentic to me.I think this film worked for me because I began to watch it with no expectations and found it completely immersing and brought back memories of teenage emotion, well worth a watch.

eplromeo8 I had the opportunity to see Peter Sollett's celebrated short film, FIVE FEET HIGH AND RISING, at the First Run Festival (NYU's student showcase) in April of 2000 and it truly was a remarkable achievement in the short format. Sollett cast appealing and charismatic young non-actors from around the Brooklyn neighborhood where he was shooting. The result was something out of the French New Wave – a raw, unflinching look at youth and growing up while remaining optimistic, romantic and charming. He even ended the film with a freeze frame, akin to THE 400 BLOWS.I bring up the short because it is this short on which RAISING VICTOR VARGAS, which aired on Saturday on Reel 13, was based. Sollett actually uses the same kids that he used in the short, only now they are several years older and suddenly very aware that they are acting. The improvisational moments that Sollett allows for in both films are more contrived in the feature now that the kids are older and more experienced. That lightning-in-a-bottle honesty that he captured in FIVE FEET HIGH AND RISING was missing in RAISING VICTOR VARGAS. The lead kid, Victor Rasuk, was much taller than five feet this time around, but he was still trying to play the puny upstart vying for the attention of a much taller and potentially older woman. Only he's not so puny and they are now the same height. The dynamics of the original were lost.This is not to say that RAISING VICTOR VARGAS is a bad film – not by any stretch. It is very clear that Sollett is a very intelligent and talented filmmaker. The family dynamic he created in the film is very effective and the addition of the grandmother character was a great idea. I particularly like that she was flawed instead of the perfect, learned and loving matriarch that you so often see. There are even some moments that approach the immediacy and sincerity of the short, but not enough to justify returning to the same story. RAISING VICTOR VARGAS got extraordinary reviews when it first came out a few years ago, but I wonder if all those critics had the opportunity to see the short as I had. If they had, I wonder if they wouldn't feel as let down as I did.(For more information on this or any other Reel 13 Indie, check out www.reel13.org).