| Nazareno Cruz y el lobo | |
| Director: | Leonardo Favio |
| Producer: | Leonardo Favio Orlando De Benedetti |
| Screenplay: | Leonardo Favio Jorge Zuhair Jury |
| Starring: | Juan José Camero Marina Magali Alfredo Alcón Lautaro Murúa |
| Music: | Juan José García Caffi and Jorge Candia |
| Cinematography: | Juan José Stagnaro |
| Editing: | Cristián Kaulen Antonio Ripoll |
| Studio: | Choila Producciones Cinematográficas |
| Distributor: | Producciones del Plata S.A. |
| Runtime: | 92 minutes |
| Country: | Argentina |
| Language: | Spanish Quechua |
Nazareno Cruz and the Wolf (Spanish; Castilian: '''Nazareno Cruz y el lobo, las palomas y los gritos'''; original title translatable as "Nazareno Cruz and the Wolf: The Doves and the Screams") is a 1975 Argentine fantasy drama film coproduced and directed by Leonardo Favio and starring Juan José Camero, Marina Magali and Alfredo Alcón. It was written by Favio and Jorge Zuhair Jury, Favio's brother and frequent script collaborator. The story works as an adaptation of the classical myth of the Lobizón, and it has become a classic film. It is also widely known as the most successful of all time in its country. With 3.4 million viewers it holds the national record ahead of El secreto de sus ojos.[1] [2]
It was selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 48th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[3] It was also entered in the 9th Moscow International Film Festival.[4]
In a survey of the 100 greatest films of Argentine cinema carried out by the Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in 2000, the film reached the 30th position.[5] In a new version of the survey organized in 2022 by the specialized magazines La vida útil, Taipei and La tierra quema, presented at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, the film reached the 17th position.[6] Also in 2022, the film was included in Spanish magazine Fotogramass list of the 20 best Argentine films of all time.[7]
Nazareno Cruz is a young farmer living in a rural town. He is known for being the seventh son of his father, and so he is seen by the locals as the victim of the werewolf curse. Despite this he lives happily in the community. When Nazareno is about to turn 18 he meets Griselda and they both fall in love. Soon after, "Mandinga" (the Devil) presents himself to Nazareno and explains that his curse is real. Mandinga makes Nazareno a proposition: if Nazareno gives up his love, he will receive in exchange his freedom and many riches. Nazareno refuses the deal and eventually turns into a werewolf, becoming involved in a series of tragedies.