La primera noche

La primera noche (The First Night) is a 2003 Colombian film, directed by Luis Alberto Restrepo. The film won 18 International awards and was Colombia's submission for the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2004. Even though the movie was highly acclaimed, after being released in some festivals throughout the United States, it never made it to big theaters. After 3 years of theatrical release, the film was released on DVD in the United States on January 30, 2007.

La primera noche
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alberto Restrepo
Written by	Alberto Quiroga
Produced by	Alberto Restrepo
Starring	Carolina Lizarazo Jhon Alex Toro Julián Roman Hernán Méndez Alonso Enrique Carriazo
Cinematography	Sergio Garcia
Edited by	Pierre Heron Victor Manuel Ruiz
Music by	German Arrieta
Distributed by	TLA Releasing
Release date	12 September 2003 (2003-09-12)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Colombia
Language	Spanish

Plot

La primera noche tells the story of a pair of farmers who have been displaced from their land - a place isolated from this world, in which they have lived their childhood and their youth - and have been brutally sent to face the streets of an unknown city, enormous and ruthless.

The conflicts of this country condemns Toño (Toro) and Paulina (Lizarazo), the protagonists, to the exile, but they live another drama that torments them. The suffering, the disappointment, the loving disappointment nests in their interior. Each of them feels lonely, incapable of assuming the pain of the other, much less see themselves as a couple. Their passion could open the door than no one will, but Toño and Paulina find in love the force that repels them and that does not help them survive.

Characters

Toño

Played by Jhon Alex Toro

He is in love with Paulina (Lizarazo), but his brother, without realizing, stands between the two of them. Toño has a calm and happy life, but the isolation prevents him from fulfilling his dream of a life consecrated to study and to work. Convinced that entering the army will help him achieve his objectives, Toño serves his neighborhood, without suspecting that his faith will be brutally betrayed. He must flee from home accompanied only by his brother's wife whom he loves, but who does not love him back.

Paulina

Played by Carolina Lizarazo

Paulina is a young farmer originally from Esperanza, a path close to the ranch where Toño and his brother, Wilson, live. Within her coexist an innocence and a disturbing sensuality. Flirty with the brothers, but like in a game, she ends up being the mother of both of Wilson's sons, who soon leaves her. She is in love with Toño, but she never confesses openly her love towards him.

When time comes to flee the city, with two babies on her hands, Paulina will decide her future and that of her children, counting only on the certainty and the conviction of her capacity to sacrifice everything, including herself, in order to give an opportunity to her children.

Wilson

Played by Julián Román

Toño's oldest brother and unconditional friend, Wilson is willing to achieve his objectives without thinking too much about the others. Guided by the trust that he has towards his uncle, he soon leaves Paulina to go fight on the mountains, knowing that he is leaving his children and his mother behind.

El Indio

Played by Hernán Méndez Alonso

Hardened during years by the strong battle to survive in the streets, El Indio will be the only friendly face that Toño and Pualina will encounter once they get to the city. Possessor of the generosity and coldness necessary to obtain a place in the world of the ignored ones, El Indio will try to give the best solutions to Toño and Paulina, who are not prepared to see with clarity where a disinterested help finishes and where a new one could start without an exit.

References

• Fundación Patrimonio Fílmico Colombiano. Nieto, Jorge (edit), Largometrajes Colombianos En Cine y Video: 1915-2004, Fundación Patrimonio Fílmico Colombiano, Ministerio de Cultura, 2006, ISBN 9589551025