There's a Road on the Right (1953) Poster

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7/10
Intense and stirring drama with distresses , poorness , pain and eventually redemption
ma-cortes13 January 2021
It tells a story about quick-tempered Miguel , Francisco Rabal , a worker who is fired and unemployed he needs money to survive , as he has a good , good-tempered wife : Julita Martinez , a kid and a newborn baby . Ultimately , he gets a bad-paid job as a factory watchman , then he becomes involved in a robbing , but things go wrong .

This is a sad and exciting movie made in maudlin Feuilleton or Folletín style and formally shot in Neorrealist mould . However , it stands out in the Spanish cinema by the time , thanks to a skill realization by Francisco Rovira Veleta and getting a considerable success. Based on an original script by Manuel Salo and Francisco Rivira Beleta himself , being his first big hit . This "Hay Un Camino a la Derecha" 1953 belongs to the Neo-realist trilogy directed by Rivira Veleta along with El Expreso de Andalucía dealing with the famous train robbery and Los Atracadores 1961 about young delinquents . Francisco Rabal gives a fine acting as the unfortunate family man and harbor depot watcher who needs money and will do whatever thing to get it . While Julita Martinez is pretty good as the kind but distressed wife .

Here stands out the cinematography in black and white with plenty of shades by Salvador Torres , though a perfect remastering being really necessary . Shot in streets , markets and prticularly docks of Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain . The motion picture was well directed by Francisco Rovira Veleta . He was a splendid filmmaker , especially known for Los Atracadores , Los Tarantos y Amor Brujo. An his beginning he collaborated with the powerful company CIFESA as director assistant to Luis Lucía and Juan de Orduña . His film debut was Doce Horas de Vida 1948 , following 39 Cartas de Amor and Luna de Sangre based on Fernan Caballero. His greatest successes were Los Tarantos 1963 a dance movie based on an Alfredo Mañas story and Amor Brujo about Manuel de Falla music , both of them nominated to American Academy Award . Other movies with no much success were La Dama del Alba based on writer Alejandro Casona , La Larga Agonía de los Peces Fuera del Agua, No Encontré Rosas Para Mi Madre , La Espada Negra and his last one : Cronica Sentimental en Rojo .
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7/10
the context
bpeb28 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
"Hay un camino a la derecha - There is a Path to the Right" is a black-market related crime drama set in a gritty Barcelona and its docks. It focuses on Miguel (Paco Rabal) and his circumstances, also using "street urchins" who were frequently included in urban films of the time, especially those dealing with the difficulties of the (un-)employment situation. Much of the film is shot on location, and thus visually chronicles the city in the early fifties –this was in itself frowned on by the censors. The film is introduced with a typical moralistic voice-over, confirming the title's Biblical resonance, introducing with its flash-forward the resolution of the drama and emphasising the family values of the regime, which sets up the suspense of how will the plot get the spectators to its conclusion. This morality is however questioned by the harsh reality of the setting, Inspector Tormo's tie and suit, covering an over-sized and ill-fitting white shirt, and the excessive introduction. Both Rivera Boleta and Paco Rabal went on to make more films, implicitly critical of the Regime's values and the implementation of these values. The film is released on DVD by Filmax, but does not provide subtitles.
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