Mr. Kaplan is a 2014 Uruguayan comedy-drama film directed by ÃÂlvaro Brechner. It was selected as the Uruguayan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Jacob Kaplan lives an ordinary life in Uruguay. Like many of his Jewish friends, Jacob fled Europe for South America because of World War II. Now turning 76, he is grumpy and in need of adventure. An unexpected opportunity to achieve greatness comes in the form of a quiet, elderly German, whom Mr. Kaplan believes to be a runaway Nazi. Determined to capture this Nazi, as Adolf Eichmann was captured before him, Mr. Kaplan enlists the help of Contreras, a portly ex-policeman, and together they embark on their mission.
Director ÃÂlvaro Brechner developed the project at TorinoFilmLab, where it received support and mentorship. The film is a co-production between Uruguay, Germany, and Spain.
Mr. Kaplan had its international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2014. The film was released theatrically in Uruguay, where it became both an audience and critical success. It was selected as Uruguay's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.
The original score for Mr. Kaplan was composed by Spanish composer Mikel Salas. The soundtrack combines original compositions with previously recorded songs that reflect the film's ironic and melancholic tone.
The soundtrack includes a version of the song SS in , originally performed by Serge Gainsbourg.
The film received positive reviews from critics. Sounds and Colours praised the performances, particularly noting that Héctor Noguera was "sensational as the film's lead." The review highlighted the film's warm humor and described it as "a delightful take on our desire to feel a purpose in our lives."
The Hollywood Reporter called it "probably the best Uruguayan film of all time." Trigon Film described Brechner's approach as demonstrating "a remarkable lightness in addressing the themes of aging and forgetting."
Mr. Kaplan attracted attention from international cultural media. In an interview with Variety, director ÃÂlvaro Brechner described the film as a reflection on dignity, memory, and aging, emphasizing its restrained and humanistic tone.
The film was also featured by Remezcla, which highlighted its use of humor and irony to address themes related to Jewish identity, historical memory, and the passage of time, situating the film within the Latin American comedy-drama tradition.
Mr. Kaplan received seven nominations at the Platino Awards in 2015, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Sound. The film was also nominated for Best Ibero-American Film at the Goya Awards and the Ariel Awards in Mexico.