Luis Callejo
Overview
Víctor is a film director who is overcome by his own misfortunes. He is an alcoholic, unemployed and terribly depressed, largely because of the death of his wife. However, Victor is still the best in one thing: telling fantastic stories to his nine-year-old son, Ingmar. These stories are each of the scripts he dreams of directing in the future, when he gathers all the necessary resources. Victor and Ingmar share a present full of sadness and precariousness, but also full of robots and locations of films they have seen together. Despite forming a great team, their problems will multiply when others begin to question their role as a father.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Stories We Tell to Stay Alive
I’ve been thinking about the lies we tell children—not the ones that protect them, but the ones that keep us from falling apart. Up Among the Stars is a film about those lies, the kind spun by a father who is drowning and a son who is learning to swim. It’s not a gentle film, nor is it a cruel one. It’s honest in the way only stories can be, when the storyteller knows the audience is just as fragile as they are.
Zoe Berriatúa, a director with a background in visual effects, doesn’t give us a fantasy here, at least not in the way we might expect. The "stars" in the title aren’t celestial bodies but the flickering illusions of cinema itself—scripts written in desperation, scenes imagined in the dark, the kind of stories that keep a man from looking too closely at the mess he’s made of his life.
Víctor (Luis Callejo) is a filmmaker who has lost his wife, his job, and nearly his grip on reality. What he hasn’t lost is his son, Ingmar (Jorge Andreu), and the two of them cling to each other through the stories Víctor invents: tales of robots, distant planets, and adventures that sound like they’ve been cobbled together from half-remembered films and half-baked dreams.
The film’s greatest strength is its refusal to romanticize this dynamic. Víctor isn’t a noble father sacrificing everything for his child; he’s a man barely holding it together, using his son as both an anchor and an audience. The stories he tells aren’t just entertainment—they’re lifelines, a way to prove to himself that he’s still capable of creating something, even if it only exists in the space between his mouth and his son’s ears.
There’s a heartbreaking moment where Víctor, drunk and slurring, tries to explain a scene from one of his imagined films, his hands gesturing wildly as if he’s directing an invisible crew. Ingmar watches him with a mix of awe and concern, and you can see the moment the boy realizes his father isn’t just telling stories—he’s performing survival.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.0/10
"A niche drama with strong performances but uneven reception, appealing mostly to fans of introspective, character-driven storytelling."
Viewers describe *Up Among the Stars* (2018) as a melancholic, slow-burn drama centered on Victor, a once-promising filmmaker now struggling with grief and financial ruin after his wife’s death. The film’s tone is often compared to European arthouse cinema, with some praising its raw emotional depth and others finding it overly bleak or meandering. Luis Callejo’s portrayal of Victor earned consistent praise for its authenticity, with audiences noting his ability to convey despair without resorting to melodrama. The supporting cast, particularly Macarena Gómez and Magüi Mira, also received positive mentions for their nuanced performances, though some felt their characters were underdeveloped. The film’s setting—a decaying cinema filled with reels of classic films, resonated with cinephiles, who appreciated its meta-commentary on the decline of physical media and the struggles of artistic integrity in a commercialized industry. However, general audiences found the pacing sluggish, with several noting that the story’s introspective focus lacked momentum or a clear narrative payoff. Russian viewers on Kinopoisk echoed these sentiments, describing the film as "poetic but exhausting" and "beautifully shot but emotionally draining." A few highlighted the cinematography as a standout element, praising its use of light and shadow to mirror Victor’s psychological state. Critically, the film’s reception was mixed. While some viewers called it a hidden gem for its unflinching portrayal of grief and creativity, others dismissed it as pretentious or self-indulgent. The lack of a strong plot resolution left many feeling unsatisfied, though a subset of audiences appreciated its open-ended, slice-of-life approach. The film’s modest runtime (85 minutes) was occasionally cited as a positive, preventing it from overstaying its welcome, but others wished for more depth in its exploration of Victor’s relationships, particularly with his son Ingmar.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performance Luis Callejo’s portrayal of Victor is widely praised for its emotional authenticity and restraint, with viewers noting his ability to convey deep grief without overacting.
- Atmospheric cinematography The film’s visual style, particularly its use of light and shadow in the decaying cinema setting, is highlighted as a standout element, creating a mood that complements the story’s themes.
- Cinephile appeal The film’s meta-commentary on cinema, classic films, and the struggles of artistic integrity resonates strongly with audiences who appreciate its homage to film history and the decline of physical media.
- Supporting cast performances Macarena Gómez and Magüi Mira are singled out for their nuanced performances, adding depth to the film’s emotional landscape.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing Many viewers describe the film as sluggish or meandering, with a lack of narrative momentum that makes it difficult to stay engaged, particularly for those not invested in its introspective tone.
- Bleak and emotionally draining The film’s unrelenting melancholy and focus on grief are polarizing; some find it powerful, while others describe it as exhausting or overly depressing without sufficient emotional payoff.
- Underdeveloped characters and relationships Several viewers note that supporting characters, including Victor’s son Ingmar, feel underwritten, leaving key relationships and dynamics unexplored.
- Lack of resolution The film’s open-ended, slice-of-life approach frustrates some audiences, who feel it lacks a satisfying narrative conclusion or thematic clarity.
Recommended for
Fans of European arthouse cinema and introspective dramas Viewers who appreciate character-driven stories over plot-heavy narratives Cinephiles interested in films about filmmaking, grief, and artistic struggle Audiences who enjoy visually atmospheric and emotionally raw storytelling
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Up Among the Stars: Zoe Berriatúa’s Multifaceted Vision
Up Among the Stars (2018) is a standout in Spanish cinema, not just for its ensemble cast but for the unique creative fingerprint of its director, Zoe Berriatúa. latestnetflix.com's view is that while details about the film’s production remain scarce, the project’s DNA is unmistakably tied to Berriatúa’s versatility—a trait that sets him apart in the industry.
A Director with Many Hats
Zoe Berriatúa isn’t your typical filmmaker. Born in Madrid in 1978, he’s carved out a niche as a triple threat: actor, director, and visual effects specialist 
. This background suggests Up Among the Stars might have benefited from his technical prowess, though the evidence doesn’t specify how his VFX expertise shaped the film. What’s clear is that Berriatúa’s career spans multiple disciplines, making him a rare breed in Spanish cinema—one who understands the medium from both sides of the camera .
His involvement in Up Among the Stars likely brought a hands-on approach, blending storytelling with a keen eye for post-production. While the film’s plot and visual style aren’t detailed in the available snippets, Berriatúa’s reputation for versatility hints at a project that balances narrative depth with technical polish.
The Cast: A Mix of Veterans and Rising Stars
The film’s ensemble is a who’s who of Spanish talent, headlined by Luis Callejo and Macarena Gómez—both known for their dynamic performances in indie and mainstream projects. Jorge Andreu, Ingrid García Jonsson, and Kiti Mánver round out the cast, bringing a mix of gravitas and fresh energy . The collaboration between these actors and Berriatúa’s direction could have been electric, though the snippets don’t reveal specifics about their working relationships.
What’s intriguing is the absence of behind-the-scenes drama or anecdotes in the available evidence. Unlike many high-profile productions, Up Among the Stars doesn’t appear to have been plagued by tabloid-worthy conflicts or delays. This could suggest a smooth shoot—or simply a lack of publicized details.
Unanswered Questions
For all its promise, Up Among the Stars remains somewhat of a mystery. The Rotten Tomatoes page confirms the cast but offers no critical consensus or audience scores . Berriatúa’s background as a VFX specialist raises questions: Did he lean into visual effects for this project, or was Up Among the Stars a more traditional narrative effort? Without deeper evidence, it’s hard to say.
Similarly, the film’s reception—both critical and commercial—isn’t addressed in the snippets. Was it a festival darling? A sleeper hit? The silence leaves room for speculation, but without concrete data, any claims would be pure conjecture.
The Bottom Line
Up Among the Stars is a film that deserves attention, if only for the talent behind and in front of the camera. Zoe Berriatúa’s multifaceted career suggests a project with layers, while the cast’s pedigree hints at strong performances. Yet, the lack of detailed behind-the-scenes coverage leaves much to the imagination. For now, the film stands as a testament to Berriatúa’s ability to juggle roles—and a reminder that some stories are best told on screen, not in the gossip columns.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.