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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Devil's Miner, The

EMAILPRINTFirst Run Features

Devil's Miner, The reviews
81
9.5 User Score:

Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary  |  Foreign

Written by: Richard Ladkani
Kief Davidson

Directed by: Kief Davidson
Richard Ladkani

Release Date:
Theatrical: March 17, 2006
DVD: May 23, 2006

Running Time: 82 minutes, Color

Origin: USA / Germany

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

The Devil's Miner is the story of 14 year-old Basilio Vargas and his 12 year-old brother Bernardino, as they work in the Bolivian silver mines of Cerro Rico, which date back to the sixteenth century. Through the children's eyes, we encounter the world of devout Catholic miners who sever their ties with God upon entering the mountain. It is an ancient belief that the devil, as represented by hundreds of statues constructed in the tunnels, determines that fate of all who work within the mines. (First Run Features)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

TV Guide Ken Fox

Basilio narrates his tale with such wit and wisdom that one comes away from the film wondering how much youthful potential is slowly being choked to death deep within the bowels of the earth.

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100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

This beautiful, terrible story is not easily forgotten.

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100

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

15 minutes into it, you are spellbound, heartbroken and unaccountably cheered -- your faith and admiration in humanity restored.

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83

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

So polished that it might pass for a scripted narrative feature, but that's not a bad thing. They found a remarkable spokesman in Bolivian teenager Basilio Vargas, and while his cogent, organized descriptions of his life, beliefs, history, and ambitions sometimes seem too calculated, at least they're calculated to communicate efficiently and appealingly.

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80

Chicago Reader Richard M. Porton

A powerful indictment of the horrendous treatment of children who toil in hellish Bolivian silver mines. The filmmakers are better at fashioning haunting images than offering hard-nosed analysis, yet they never sentimentalize their young protagonists' plight.

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80

Variety Deborah Young

An unforgettable journey through hell under the earth, where Satan is worshipped as king. Straight-as-an-arrow filmmaking raises this docu above the crowd.

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80

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

While political and social context is kept to a minimum, the darkly poetic images they capture speak volumes about what the miners go through.

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75

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

It's a simple film with a direct message, but the glimpses of the surrounding social culture that has adapted to the horrors give this Third World "How Green Was My Valley" its identity.

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75

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Guaranteed to leave you outraged at the way children - and, for that matter, adults - are exploited by mining companies.

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70

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

It’s the captured conversations about everyday lives and struggles that pin you to your seat.

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70

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Perhaps little more than an object lesson in the end, the movie's nevertheless a sobering day trip, more for its hints of a forgotten history of culture collision than its sensible but rote socioeconomic sympathies.

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70

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

A brave, sincere film that leaves you wishing that more light had been shed on the darkness.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Richard B. gave it a10:
This 14 year old is amazing. Excellent and heartbreaking movie.

Kevin C. gave it a10:
One of the most riveting movies I've ever seen. The lives of these people were captured in a sensistive, yet mind-blowing way. The dialogue, the camera work the scenery are fantastic. If you see one movie the rest of the year make it this one . If it wasn;t true, you wouldn't believe it.

James M. gave it a10:
I happened to see this film by accident in a late night slot on Britain's BBC channel - its stunning and tragic - I'd implore everyone out there to watch it.

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