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An Argentinian in New York (1998) movie poster

Characters & Themes

An Argentinian in New York (1998) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1998 · 95 mins · Spanish
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Directed by
Juan José Jusid
Starring
Guillermo Francella, Gabriel Goity, Natalia Oreiro, Ana Celentano, Cristina Alberó, Kris Carr

On the brink of her 18th birthday, an Argentinian teenage girl travels to New York for a study program, only to decide to remain in the city. Concerned for her, her devoted father rushes to the United States to retrieve her before her mother becomes overly anxious, setting off a cross‑continental family drama.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like An Argentinian in New York
  8. 8 Every angle
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3 main characters · contains spoilers

An Argentinian in New York Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of An Argentinian in New York (1998), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Franco De Ricci - Guillermo Francella

    A sentimental porteño musician who travels to New York to bring his daughter Veronica back to Argentina. He is affectionate, stubborn, and deeply protective, yet his initial jealousy gives way to acceptance as he realizes Veronica is becoming an adult. His journey is as much about reconciling family expectations with personal growth as it is about re-establishing their bond.

    • 👨 Father
    • 🧭 Family
  • Verónica 'Vero' De Ricci - Natalia Oreiro

    Brave, intelligent, and determined, Veronica has grown into a young woman who leads a band called The Verónikos. She navigates love with an American boy while pursuing her musical dreams in a foreign city. Her maturity challenges her father’s assumptions and tests their relationship, balancing loyalty to family with personal autonomy.

    • 🎶 Musician
    • 👩‍🎤 Artist
  • George - Steve Wilson

    An American love interest who captivates Veronica and stirs jealousy in Franco. He represents a new world and a symbol of Veronica’s independence and romance in the bustling city. His role pushes the family dynamics, contributing to moments of humor, tension, and growth.

    • 💘 Love Interest
    • 🗽 City Life

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 18:04

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Setting

Where and When Does An Argentinian in New York Take Place?

The setting of An Argentinian in New York (1998): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

New York

New York is depicted as a vertiginous, bustling metropolis unfamiliar to Franco, offering a backdrop for his misadventures and his search to reconnect with his daughter. The story contrasts a sentimental Argentine father with the city’s fast pace, nightlife, cafés, and music venues where Veronica’s band performs. The setting highlights urban energy and cultural clashes that drive both humor and growth.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🗽 Immigrant Experience
  • 🎶 Music Scene

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 18:04

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3 major themes

An Argentinian in New York Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is An Argentinian in New York (1998) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Family

    A father-daughter relationship drives the story, blending affection, conflict, and growth. Franco’s arrival in New York challenges Veronica’s independence, forcing both to confront how they see each other. The journey reveals that maturity comes with trust and letting go, even amid humor and tears.

  • Music

    Veronica forms a band that signals her growth and ambition in the arts. The café debut and the wider music scene in New York provide a backdrop for personal empowerment and creative collaboration. Music serves as a bridge and a battleground between family expectations and personal dreams.

  • City Life

    New York’s dizzying energy frames the story’s humor and challenges. The city’s diverse streets, venues, and crowds amplify the clash between traditional parental roles and modern independence. The experience changes how the characters see themselves within a big, anonymous metropolis.

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 18:04

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Character & theme questions

An Argentinian in New York Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about An Argentinian in New York (1998): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the story take place?

The movie is set primarily in New York City, depicted as a vertiginous, bustling metropolis. The story unfolds across the city's nightlife, cafés, and music venues where Veronica's band performs, highlighting urban energy and cultural contrasts between Argentine traditions and American city life.

  • new york city
  • setting
  • new york
  • location
  • metropolis
Q2

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film explores three interconnected themes: Family (the father-daughter relationship and growth), Music (personal empowerment and creative dreams), and City Life (the clash between traditional parental roles and modern independence). The story balances humor with sentimental exploration of a father learning to let go as his daughter becomes an adult.

  • themes
  • family
  • music
  • city life
  • independence
  • growth
Q3

Who is Franco De Ricci?

Franco De Ricci is a sentimental father and musician from Buenos Aires who travels to New York to bring his teenage daughter Veronica back to Argentina. He is affectionate, stubborn, and deeply protective, but his journey forces him to confront his jealousy and accept that Veronica is becoming an adult capable of making her own choices.

  • franco de ricci
  • father
  • character
  • parent
  • musician
Q4

Who is Veronica De Ricci?

Veronica (Vero) De Ricci is an Argentine teenager who travels to New York for a study program and decides to remain in the city to pursue her musical dreams. She leads a band called The Verónikos and navigates a relationship with an American boy named George. Brave and intelligent, she represents the tension between family loyalty and personal autonomy.

  • veronica
  • vero
  • daughter
  • character
  • musician
  • band
Q5

Who is George in the movie?

George is an American love interest who captures Veronica's heart and becomes a source of jealousy for her father Franco. He represents the new world and symbolizes Veronica's independence and romance in New York City. His presence triggers key moments of humor and tension in the family dynamic.

  • george
  • love interest
  • american
  • character
  • romance
Q6

What does the father-daughter relationship explore?

The relationship between Franco and Veronica blends affection, conflict, and mutual growth. Franco's arrival in New York challenges Veronica's independence, forcing both to confront how they see each other. The journey reveals that maturity comes with trust and letting go, even amid humor and tears, ultimately leading to acceptance.

  • father
  • daughter
  • family
  • relationship
  • growth
  • trust
Q7

What role does music play in the movie?

Music serves as both a symbol of Veronica's growth and ambition and as a bridge between family expectations and personal dreams. Her band The Verónikos represents her artistic pursuits in New York, with the café debut and the city's music scene providing a backdrop for empowerment and creative collaboration.

  • music
  • band
  • veronikos
  • dreams
  • arts
  • performance
Q8

How is New York depicted in the movie?

New York is depicted as a dizzying, energetic metropolis unfamiliar to Franco, serving as a backdrop for his misadventures and search to reconnect with his daughter. The city's diverse streets, venues, and crowds amplify the cultural clash between traditional Argentine family values and modern independence, fundamentally changing how characters see themselves.

  • new york
  • city
  • urban
  • metropolis
  • cultural clash
  • immigrant experience
Q9

Is the movie a comedy or a drama?

The movie is primarily a comedy, though it carries a sentimental core exploring the father-daughter relationship. The tone is light, driven by Franco's hilarious misadventures in New York, but it is tempered with emotional moments about a child growing up. The story resolves happily with Franco accepting Veronica's maturity.

  • comedy
  • genre
  • tone
  • sentiment
  • humor
  • family drama
Q10

How old is Veronica in the movie?

Veronica is on the brink of her 18th birthday when she travels to New York for a study program. This specific age is significant because it marks the transition from teenager to adulthood, which is central to the story's exploration of independence and the father's struggle to accept his daughter's maturation.

  • veronica
  • age
  • 18
  • birthday
  • adulthood
  • independence
  • teenager

Movie threads

More Movies Like An Argentinian in New York, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes An Argentinian in New York tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about father-daughter relationships like An Argentinian in New York

Stories where fathers and daughters reconnect through shared adventures and gentle growth. If you enjoyed the heartfelt father-daughter dynamic in An Argentinian in New York, discover more movies that explore this special bond. These films feature dads on a mission to connect with their daughters, leading to comedic and sentimental adventures that strengthen their family ties.

  • heartwarming
  • sentimental
  • comedic
  • family
  • uplifting
  • light-hearted
  • Tone: heartwarming, comedic, sentimental
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a well-meaning, sometimes overbearing father who embarks on a quest, either literal or emotional, to bridge the gap with his independent daughter. The journey forces both characters to see each other in a new light, moving from a parental-child dynamic to one of mutual respect and adult friendship, often set against a new or unfamiliar backdrop.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their central focus on the father-daughter relationship arc. They share a light emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows for character development, and a tone that balances comedy with genuine sentiment, resulting in an uplifting and heartwarming viewing experience.

Fish-out-of-water city comedies like An Argentinian in New York

Heartfelt comedies about characters discovering themselves in a vibrant new city. Fans of the light-hearted New York adventures in An Argentinian in New York will enjoy these similar films. Discover other comedies where characters navigate the excitement and chaos of a big city, leading to personal growth and hilarious cultural clashes in an uplifting story.

  • comedic
  • uplifting
  • light-hearted
  • optimistic
  • fish out of water
  • cultural clash
  • Tone: light, optimistic, uplifting
  • Pacing: steady, exploratory
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a protagonist, often from a different culture or small-town background, as they arrive in a major city. The initial disorientation and comedic struggles of adaptation give way to a deeper connection with the city and its people. The journey is one of self-discovery, where the character pursues a dream or finds a new version of themselves, culminating in a sense of belonging or happy acceptance.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific vibe: the exhilarating and often humorous experience of being an outsider in a dynamic urban environment. They are united by a light tone, steady pacing that explores the city's rhythm, and an optimistic, uplifting mood that makes the viewer feel good.

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Every angle

An Argentinian in New York (1998) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about An Argentinian in New York in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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