This movie really took me by surprise. From the moment it starts it takes a hold of you and doesn't let you go until the very emotional ending, at which point this reviewer realised he was watching his favourite movie of the year so far (and it's almost November!).
The way it is filmed and edited is great, proving once again how much more advanced spanish cinema is than anything else on the continent, and that it can more than hold its own against large international studios.
The photography is beautiful, really capturing the beauty of small town and rural northern Spain, and showing us the very real world this characters inhabit.
The script is amazing, having you laughing out loud in one moment only to have you biting your lip not to cry in the very next. It's really entertaining and is only supplemented by superb acting from everyone who appears on screen, making you forget you're watching a movie at all. Both of the leads are outstanding and should definitely be at least considered for Goya's this year.
It's a really poignant coming of age story with a focus on the central brotherly relationship and family in general, so do yourself a favour and watch it already.
Another recommendation is to watch the original Spanish dub to really feel the way characters interact with each other and how natural they are, which might be lost in the english dub.
The way it is filmed and edited is great, proving once again how much more advanced spanish cinema is than anything else on the continent, and that it can more than hold its own against large international studios.
The photography is beautiful, really capturing the beauty of small town and rural northern Spain, and showing us the very real world this characters inhabit.
The script is amazing, having you laughing out loud in one moment only to have you biting your lip not to cry in the very next. It's really entertaining and is only supplemented by superb acting from everyone who appears on screen, making you forget you're watching a movie at all. Both of the leads are outstanding and should definitely be at least considered for Goya's this year.
It's a really poignant coming of age story with a focus on the central brotherly relationship and family in general, so do yourself a favour and watch it already.
Another recommendation is to watch the original Spanish dub to really feel the way characters interact with each other and how natural they are, which might be lost in the english dub.