Dir.: Miguel Arteta; Script: Miguel Arteta; Phot.: Chuy Chavez; Ed.: Jeff Betancourt, Tom McArdle, Tony Selzer; Mus.: Douglas Spain, Efrain Figueroa, Kandeyce Jorden, Martha Velez, Lysa Flores, Annette Murphy, Robin Thomas, Vincent Chandler, Al Vicente, Herbert Siguenza, Jeff Sanna; Cast: Matthew Greenfield, Flan de Coco Films; Prod. & Sales: Fox Searchlight, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213 (États-Unis), tél.: (310) 369-4281, fax: (310) 286-1803;Dist.: Fox Searchlight.

Carlos is a handsome, precocious 18-year-old who is willing to risk anything to become a movie star. Determined to make it, Carlos finds his greatest obstacles are not only breaking into the business but breaking free from his oppressive family. Returning to his family in Los Angeles after living in Mexico for two years with his grandparents, Carlos finds his family in greater despair than when he left. He has returned with the misguided notion that working for his father will somehow launch his film career and in turn allow him to save his family: a mother who is recovering from a breakdown and can only survive with the care of his sister and an older brother who has grown unstable. However, Carlos slowly realizes that his goals aren't what's wrong -- it's the way he's chosen to reach them which perpetuates his problems. "Talk about your dysfunctional families. Carlos' mentally ill mother thinks that Cantinflas (the late Mexican comedian) talks to her from the moon. His half-witted brother masturbates in front of dinner guests. Worse, he's being pimped by his thuggish father. For all the grimness of its material, STAR MAPS, a debut effort from director Miguel Arteta, displays a surprisingly deft touch." -- Fred Cohn (Premiere)