The Grandfather (1998)

7/10

Sensational rendition with extraordinary performances and luxurious scenarios

ma-cortes28 December 2009

This perceptible drama is based on Benito Perez Galdos's (author of Episodios Nacionales) novel and adapted by Horacio Valcarcel. The countess Lucrecia (Cayetana Guillen Cuervo) along with his two daughters(Alicia Rozas, Cristina Cruz) return to City of Jerusia. But also the grandfather (Fernando Fernan Gomez)goes back Spain after traveling America looking for the Dorado, but he is now ruined. The old man wants reckoning , because his son died and left a will stating which one of the two daughters is an illegitimate little girl . Later on, the elderly count is obligated by the Mayor(Fernando Guillen, Cayetana Guillen's father), the priest(Francisco Algora), the administrator(Agustin Gonzalez) and doctor(Juan Calot) to remain at a Monastery led by the prior(Francisco Piquer) but Don Rodrigo escapes.

This is a thought-provoking drama filmed with great sensitivity and feeling. It's an intelligent and touching story although sometimes is slow moving and tiring but is finely developed with sense of style and sensibility. In the picture are treated ethics and morals themes developed with great sense of fairness and ductility.Excellent acting by Fernando Fernan Gomez as an embittered man who will must face the traumatic truth and choose between honor and love. Special mention to Rafael Alonso as unfortunate elderly man who is mistreated by his six daughters . Besides exceptional and awesome cinematography by Raul Perez Cubero as is reflected on the marvelous outdoors of the countryside and brilliant interiors . Wonderful musical score by Manuel Balboa and the symphonic orchestra of Madrid with haunting leitmotif. Well filmed on marvelous locations as Niembro, Llanes, Pola De Lena, Church of Valdedios and Santa Cristina Lena (Asturias) and Monastery of Santa Maria Vid (Aranda Duero). Spectacular production design by Gil Parrondo who formerly achieved two Oscars (Patton, Nicholas and Alexandra). The motion picture is accurately directed by Jose Luis Garci (El Crack I, II, Luz Domingo) who won one Academy Award for ¨Volver a Empezar¨. Rating : Better than average and well worth seeing.

For these reasons is essential and indispensable watching and is better than first version titled ¨La Duda¨ by Rafael Gil with Fernando Rey (Fernando Fernan Gomez role), Analia Gade (Cayetana Guillen character),Pilar Bardem, and again Rafael Alonso as Senen Corbacho (Agustin Gonzalez role).

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7/10

Love or honor? How can one choose?

=G=11 August 2000

Or does one have to? The matter is posed to an old man (El Abuelo aka the Grandfather) returning penniless from intrigues abroad to the village where he was once a respected aristocrat. In search of the truth about his two beautiful granddaughters, the sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet old man is met with insincerity and chicanery.

Some may view the film as plodding and uneventful. However, those with an understanding of the importance family honor to an old world aristocrat or the meaning of love to a disenfranchised old man will likely be captivated by its subtle charms. The old Spanish architecture, pastoral beauty, and sumptuous cinematography should appeal to all.

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8/10

The Grandfather Fernando Fern Gomez This film deserves wider audience than it received in 1999

dfwforeignbuff28 January 2010

The Grandfather (1999) El Abuelo This film directed by José Luis Garci, who won an Academy Award in 1983 for "To Begin Again,". Based on Benito Perez Galdos novel, the film that comments on how families are built by love, not blood. Love is the only bond that can hold a family together, & this movie proves it. When an aging, bitter, turn-of-the-century Spanish aristocrat (Fernando Fernán-Gómez) learns that his son has died, he travels back to his family estate in Spain to confront his detested daughter-in-law (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo), whom he suspects of bearing him an illegitimate granddaughter. But which one is it? Which granddaughter will gain his blessing, & which his curse? This once powerful and still proud patriarch finds it hard to deal with the shameful and humiliating treatment he receives from the townsfolk. As his ego is battered, he slowly mellows. His friendship with Pio Coronado (Rafael Alonso) improves his mental health.(the old teacher who has had serious thoughts about suicide). In the last stages of his life, the Count learns a thing or two about time, love, friendship, and blood ties. He is free at last to cave in to the impulses and desires of his heart. While the film is a deeply touching story & contains very lush beautiful cinematography this movies moves at a snail's pace & is very long at 145 minutes. The great Spanish character actor Fernando Fernan-Gomez (Belle Epoque) won a Spanish Goya award for his part in this film as aged Count of Albrit. His creaky performance is a standout; excellent –well really- fantastic he is in this role characterizing The Grandfather. The film is just a little too slow & constrained. In addition to the strong performances, the film's cinematography is absolutely beautiful. The lush & verdant Spanish landscape is the backdrop, the rural scenery sweeps of Spain is just a beauty to behold. The stunning cinematography literally makes turn-of-the-century Spain appear as if it's just been stolen from an famous summer painting. In 1999, The Grandfather deserved its the Spanish nomination for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film. It also received a dozen Spanish Goya nominations. This is the third time Galdos' novel has been brought to the screen, & this one is well worth the effort to watch. My main comment would be how poor the (Spanish) dubbing was. It was a very bad choice to have the two small girls voices dubbed in by fake sounding adults who do not sound like a child at all. There were consistent problems with the voice dubbing & synchronizing throughout the movie. I watched the movie in Spanish with English Subtitles. I hope this film get a wider audience than it had in 1999 it is really almost an epic of a movie and extremely beautiful and interesting. The Grandfather magically transports us to a time and a way of life that have long since disappeared. However it is a tad boring as it is long and slow but art film lovers hang in there and watch this !! I still liked the movie a lot!

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9/10

Beautiful filming accompanies sensitive interpretations

khatcher-216 December 2000

My immediate impression after seeing this film for the first time (and any really good film needs to be seen at least twice) was that at last here was another little masterpiece to add to the very limited cinematographical treasure troves produced by Spain in the last quarter of a century. 'El Abuelo' stands very well alongside `El Sur' (1982) and `Los Santos Inocentes' (1984), these two also being adapted from novels. I cannot help thinking that Garci is at his best when with the help of Valcárcel he adapts a story from real Spanish literature. As perhaps the most prestigious and prize-winning Spanish director (we shall pass over Almodóvar and his commercially orientated light entertainment), having won at Hollywood, Montreal, and Spain's own Goya prize several times, he has produced some memorable films and TV series (Historias del Otro Lado - Stories from the Other Side), mostly because he has that acute eye for capturing every detail as he shoots his scenes. He knows how to use his actors, and never better than in `El Abuelo'. The leading actors bring sincere interpretations, full of feeling, adding beauty to the situations being developed. The film is also a little tribute to Rafael Alonso, who died without seeing the finished film: his life ended with the hugely memorable part of an unpresuming private home teacher to the two little girls - Dolly and Nelly - one of whom is not really Don Rodrigo's granddaughter. Fernán Gómez is of course perfect, as he has been in most of his films in recent years, and Agustín González has at last played his best rôle in the whole of his acting career. Don Rodrigo returns from the Americas where he lost a fortune, to find out which of the two girls was due to his daughter-in-law's unfaithfulness. The novel itself is `costumbrista' as is also the novel by Concha Espina, `El Junco', which deals with a similar situation. Manuel Balboa once again has been exquisite in choosing his music and I must mention the sumptuous photography by Raúl Pérez Cubero, beautifully, lovingly captured in the countryside and around the grand old house, worth any prizes that may be floating around out there.....But I do not believe in prizes: they mostly exist only to perpetuate themselves. `El Abuelo' does not need any prizes - it stands up on its own merits: simply a wonderful film telling a story with simplicity and feeling.

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10/10

Love and Honor

gradyharp12 February 2007

EL ABUELO (The Grandfather) began as a 1954 novel by Benito Pérez Galdós and was adapted for the screen by writer/director José Luis Garci in 1998, a year when it was nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar. It is a period piece of epic proportions, an immensely beautiful work both visually and emotionally, that assures the film's becoming a beloved standard in the cinematic library.

Don Rodrigo de Arista Potestad (Fernando Fernán Gómez, the brilliant Peruvian actor from such films as 'Butterfly', 'Belle Epoque', 'All About My Mother, etc) is a crusty old aristocrat who has been in America for the Gold Rush who returns to Spain (a small town of Jerusa) when his son dies. He concern is about a letter his son wrote to him that one of his two granddaughters was sired by another man, an artist, and the old man is determined to find out which one of the granddaughters should rightfully inherit is name and his money. He arrives to meet Dolly (Cristina Cruz) and Nelly (Cristina Cruz) and their beautiful mother Doña Lucrecia (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo), a woman who has survived emotional hardships but has generously favored the small town with gifts while giving her daughters in home schooling by the intelligent, sensitive Don Pío Coronado (Rafael Alonso) who has been forsaken by his own family. The once butler of the home Senén Corchado (Agustín González) has been freed to become an oily capitalist, eager to squander the family money.

Don Rodrigo (Abuelo) challenges the family to maintain the honor of his name, becomes fast friends with Don Pío, and the two set about to discover whether it is Dolly or Nelly that is the true bloodline granddaughter. The manner in which the investigation proceeds includes the warm relationship Abuelo forms with the girls, the way he decides the future of Lucrecia, and the bonding he forms with Pío. It is Pío who challenges Abuelo with the question of which is more important, honor or love, and it is this question that suffuses the resolution of the story with surprises and with extraordinary tenderness.

The actors are all superb with special kudos to Fernando Fernán Gómez and Rafael Alonso. The cinematography of the coastlines of Spain is breathtakingly beautiful and the manner in which Raúl Pérez Cubero frames his images glows. The original musical score is by Manuel Balboa whose love theme is hauntingly played by both piano and orchestra: the moments of music by Satie (Gymnopédie) and Elgar (the Nimrod variation from Enigma Variations) are beautifully performed by the Madrid Orchestra under the baton of Ángel Gil Ordóñez. The film is long (well over two hours) and there are some synchrony defects in the spoken soundtrack (?dubbing for the granddaughters' voices?), but these are minor flaws in an eloquently beautiful film. In Spanish with English subtitles. Grady Harp

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7/10

A beautiful story

dtello4 January 2001

Oscar winner Jose Luis Garci repeats his classical formula in this adaptation from a novel by Perez Galdos. The story is set in Asturias, in the north of Spain, in the 1900's. The film is about honor, reputation, friendship, love and hate.

As many films by Garci, the cinematography and the score makes the film more comfortable to follow, although there are scenes that can be so slow, that they can bore a bit.

But all the cast, including Fernan Gomez and Rafael Alonso, the landscape and the story itself, make this film so attractive to those who love classical films, that it must be seen.

And pay attention to the magnificent first 7 minutes, with no cuts, and the camera following calmly to the characters. ¡It is genial!

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10/10

A rich and rewarding experience - not to be missed.

daveyo3 November 1999

Wonderful, lovely, warm, rich story of an impoverished, very old, Spanish aristocrat (El Abuelo - the grandfather) whose son is dead, and whose daughter-in-law has two daughters. One of these granddaughters is the son of El Abuelo, and one is the product of an affair - which has highly affronted the old man's honor. And he wants to find out which is which. Ultimately, he discovers he loves them both, and with a little help from another wonderful character, decides that love is more important than honor. Absolutely terrific. Leisurely pace, good cinematography complement story line and excellent performances. (In Spanish with subtitles).****

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Not clear what language is really being spoken in this movie

pinelakekw6 January 2002

I agree with most of the favorable comments made about this movie. The story, the characters, the scenery were all must right. If the story seems a bit formal and slow moving, I think that's just Spanish style for a story of this type. The dialogue was quite good. The movie is in Spanish with English subtitles, but what I thought was odd, was the apparent use of dubbed voices for several of the characters. The two most obvious were the women's voices dubbed in for the two grand-daughters. But the lip movements of several characters made it clear they were not speaking Spanish. There's no doubt Fernando Gomez and Cayetana Guillen and some of the others were speaking Spanish, but I wonder what language the rest were really speaking before Spanish was dubbed in?

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7/10

great music and cinematography

planktonrules3 October 2005

The acting and cinematography and music are absolutely lovely--first rate all the way. And, in many instances the story is very interesting and engaging. However, at times, I felt I really needed to struggle to keep watching the film, as the characters, in general, are unlikable. The townspeople slowly reveal themselves to be shallow jerks and the grandfather is obviously like this as well, but at least by the end of the film he's more likable and multifaceted. Perhaps the only ones who you feel drawn towards are the cute granddaughters BUT they have such creepy dubbed voices that at first I thought this might be some sort of EXORCIST rip-off. While the older girl's voice isn't as creepy, the younger one sounds exactly like an older woman DUBBING the voice of a young girl. How can they spend so much money and effort to produce such an excellent film and have this creepy cheap-sounding voice? Oh well, it's probably NOT something that will bother every viewer but little things like this really take me out of the moment.

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10/10

A very good movie

finitodistampare8 March 2006

This in a movie version of Perez Galdos's novel . I mean you got to understand the historical context where it happens. There are several reasons to watch this movie. The first rate performance of the Spanish actor Fernando Fernan Gomez (actor,writer, theater director, drama writer,etc.), a national treasure . His performance in this movie won a Goya ( the Spanish's academy awards ) . The 2 performances offered by Fernan Gomez in "El Abuelo" and "La lengua de las mariposas " can be counted among the best in recent years .This actor is admired by Banderas,Bardem ,etc. Then we have Rafael Alonso as El Abuelo's friend .Another magnificent actor .All the cast really is very well chosen. Garci direct the movie with a strong hand , caring a lot about the acting . If only for the performances it will be worth to spend your time watching this movie and remember the story was devised by one of the best universal writers ever . Your own university will tell you that...

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10/10

A Beautiful Movie

mclinch19 December 2005

Warning: Spoilers

"El Abuelo," directed by the famous director Jose Luis Garci, is a historical movie from Spain, released in 1998, and it is based on the novel of the same title written by Benito Perez Galdos. It was an Oscar candidate for the category of best foreign movie in 1998, but lost the award to the Italin movie "Life is Beautiful." It is a great movie with fabulous actors, such as the legendary actor Fernando Fernan Gomez, who plays the part of the main character Don Rodgrigo. Other actors include: Rafael Alonso, who plays the part of Don Pio Coronado; Cayetanna Guillen Cuervo, who plays Dona Lucrecia; and Cristina Cruz and Alicia Rozas play the parts of Dolly and Nelly. The principal theme is the importance of honor, rather than love, specifically in Spanish society around 1890, as well as the relationship of honor rather than love within various social classes.

Don Rodrigo is an elderly aristocrat who returns to Jerusa after he has lost his fortune on his last trip to Peru. The other reason he has returned is that while he was in Latin America he received a letter saying that his only son, Rafael, is dead. The same letter contained the latter Rafael wrote to his wife, which says that Don Rodrigo's daughter-in-law, dona Lucrecia, has had an affair and only one of the children is actually his. So don Rodrigo returns to Jerusa to determine which granddaughter is his real granddaughter. After he asks numerous questions, he comes to the conclusion that Dolly is the heir-although in reality it is Nelly who is the real heir. Don Rodrigo has to choose what is more important: the love of his two granddaughters, even though one is illegitimate, or protecting his honor and the family pride and dividing the girls without heeding the consequences or his granddaughter's feelings. Other parts of the plot include the stories of the girls' tutor, don Pio, and other people who work for don Rodrigo's family and are trying to improve their lives and social status, like Venancio and Gregorio, and their employee Senen.

I like "el Abuelo" a lot because it is a very interesting, moving, and sad movie, while at the same time being very humorous. One effective aspect of the movie is the soundtrack. At the beginning of the movie, and after the credits which show after the scene with dona Lucrecia and the politician, the song "Gymnopedie," by Erik Satie plays in the background. This song is very emotional and serves to bring the different scenes together. Also, that the song is a little sad, yet beautiful at the same time is a symbol that continues from the beginning until the end of the movie. In my opinion, the two more important defects are the excessive length and the dubbing of the voices of the young girls with voices of two grown woman. I think that the acting is incredible, especially that of Fernando Fernan Gomez and Rafael Alonso. Together they are very funny, for example, in the scene in the end of the movie. When don Rodrigo receives the news that Nelly is the actual heir and that dona Lucrecia is going to leave with his two granddaughters, he wants to die, just like don Pio wants to die. But when he says this, don Pio says that he won't allow it, that he cannot have the death of don Rodrigo on his conscience. When don Rodrigo ignores him don Pio says to himself, "They won't even let you die in peace, Coronado." It is possible that if the role of don Pio had been played by another actor, in the sad circumstances surrounding the scene, it would not have been so funny. However, in my opinion the type of the relationship between Fernando Fernan Gomez and Rafael Alonso, along with the script and the direction of Luis Garci, all these things together are the reason "el Abuelo" has a great balance of sadness and comedy.

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9/10

Why do we always try to change the people we love?

lastliberal21 February 2010

This is a period piece bringing together some of the greatest writers, directors, and actors of the Spanish theater.

Benito Pérez Galdós' novel was first made into film in 1925, five years after his death. Galdos has written many works that have made it to film, and the fact that one is redone is testament to his writing skill.

José Luis Garci is one of Spain's greatest writers and directors, and has many shelves full of awards to prove it.

Fernando Fernán Gómez, who plays the lead in this film, also has shelves full of awards for his acting (over 200 roles), writing, and directing skills. He plays a man who returns from Peru determined to find his rightful heir between the daughters of his philandering daughter-in-law (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo).

This is not an easy task as he is broke and his daughter-in-law has the whole town on her side because of the money her husband left her.

The scene where he called them all out was magnificent! The scene where his granddaughter Dolly (Cristina Cruz) laid down the law was breathtaking.

This was a beautiful film that my poor words cannot even begin to describe.

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8/10

Big European Montage

jobeblanc21 June 2004

Probably done for a reasonable enough budget, but this film has the look and soul of a big, well-crafted European production.

The script is just filled with nodules of truth wrapped up in old world philosophy, that play out before the viewer's eye. This is a long film so make sure that you have the time and mental alertness to make the journey - but for the patient, the investment is worth it.

The cast is filled with capable players: the leads are exceptional latin character actors, they are surrounded by the others which are more often than not caricatures who actually focus the reality of the story around the serious players.

The cinematography is magnificent.

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10/10

Best Spanish writer + Best actors + Best director = Great movie

supertoton5 February 2001

Benito Pérez Galdós is considered (with Miguel de Cervantes) the best Spanish writer and, in fact, if you read one of his books I assure you'll read more. Adapted by lots of directors, like Luis Buñuel, now was the time of the greatest Spanish director alive (José Luis Garci) to film one of the prettiest dramas ever made. And for "The Grandfather" José Luis Garci had the help of a genius (not only an actor, also a writer, director, ...): Fenando Fernán Gómez, his name is a legend alive. So with the text of Galdós, the art of Garci and the character of Fernán Gómez what can you have? A piece of art.

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8/10

heartwarming

madrig8014 January 2004

Among the many strengths of this movie: excellent dialogues-better if you understand Spanish-, superb acting even by children, touching and comic -not corny- story, magnificent landscapes and atmospheres. Definitively, an intelligent movie with a big heart.

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10/10

Very touching and engaging

redbutterfly_danne3 November 2006

Warning: Spoilers

I've seen this movie during the Spanish Film Fest in the Philippines

and I loved it! It has been my favorite movie ever since. The movie is

really touching. When I was watching it, my heart really felt heavy. It

will make you think if you've been nice to your old grandpa. Whatever

the price of the ticket will be, I can assure that it will be worth it!

Unlike other movies, this one has a lot of twist in it, that's why it's

so exciting and engaging. You'll never know who's the real

granddaughter unless you watch it! =)

OTHER REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT! * It has a great cinematography. * You'll never know what happens next, unlike other movies! * Unpredictable events. * Nice location * Good shots * A lot of quotable quotes that you can keep.

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Charming, sensitive and often times hilarious

pae-sk11 October 2003

This charming, sensitive and often times hilarious comedy of manners is one of the best movies I've seen in years. It's long (147 minutes) and engrossing with many subplots and twists. A foreign film from Spain, it has no actors which will be readily recognizable to the American audience, and that alone builds interest and suspense, because we never really know who is going to what to whom and how it is all going to turn out.

This is a rather talky film and takes patience to read the subtitles but it's well worth it. Beautifully shot in the Spanish countryside. Not to be missed by the discerning film enthusiast. 10 out of 10. Don't miss it.

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10/10

El Abuelo is a very good film about relationships

ericquirin18 March 2007

Warning: Spoilers

This film is about an old aristocrat who returns to his hometown in northern Spain to find out who his real granddaughter is, to define an heir.(he has two granddaughters one of which is an illegitimate child). He loves both of them, but becomes more greatly attached to the older child (Dolly) who he feels is the image of his late wife.

When he finds out that Dolly is not his granddaughter; he is unhappy, and considers suicide; The girl's mother is in the process of taking them to live with her in Madrid, but Dolly wants to stay in town to take care of her grandfather.

Almost at the point of jumping to his death, Dolly arrives at the scene and the grandfather realizes that although she is not in his bloodline, he loves her very much and decides to stay and live with her and a friend.

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Intriguing movie; slow-going at first

robbiec8 October 1999

This is a very unusual story, set in a different time and place than what I normally see. I found it hard to get into the story at first since I did not understand the motivations of the characters for the first 30 or 40 minutes of the film. Once the characters were more revealed, the film told a fascinating story of family ties and honor. Beautiful scenery added to my pleasure.

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A bit boring

Gordon-1128 February 2003

This is a film about an elderly man's choice between love or honour. The film is long, and unnecessarily long. There was not so much in the story, and it dragged on to 2 1/2 hours. The reason why the mother became repentious of her actions was not given, therefore she became 'good' all of a sudden. How strange. The bit about suicide was hilarious, I am glad that this scene was included so that the film gets less boring. Otherwise, the film was a bore.

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flawed moral principle

dallastexasusa22 October 2005

The flaw with this movie is: the question that directs the whole affair is put much too simply. The most immoral characters in this film is made out to be the one who gives and receives love the most. It is a cr@p idea and must have come from a cr@p novel written by a cr@p writer who wants the cr@p bastards he or she grew up with to be loved as much as legitimate children that he probably envied as a child.

The Countess, who married into money and prominence, spends the movie playing dirty tricks to keep the grandfather from finding out which granddaughter is legitimate. First, she denies and lies about her childbearing affair. Then, she tries to have him imprisoned in a monastery. Then, she plays the dirtiest trick of the movie by giving him the granddaughter that he mistakenly believes is his, because after all, it is all about love, no matter what else is true.

The problem that I have with this movie is not that it wasn't well made or well acted - it was both. But, I think that it was really made for two audiences: women (especially for women who sin prominently) and those crazy old foggies who think that it is important to know which of your children and grandchildren are actually yours (what an outdated, anachronistic idea!).

The moral is as sophisticated as the lie that it is all predicated on, that love is okay as long as it is love.

Meanwhile, the Grandfather, obsessed with determining paternity, is supposed to represent the viewer. He vagabonds through his old province and spouts moral lessons, gleans family history, learns the ins and outs of the local characters, all the while reading clues to determine which daughter is of his oh-so-sacred bloodline. We are supposed to follow his journey and come to the same conclusion that he comes to by the end of the movie.

So the audience is slowly tricked into believing that it is okay to cuckold or be cuckolded as long as you love the children it produces. I get the movie. I get the moral. But, I have to say that I find it morally and ethically objectionable to trick a grandfather into raising and caring for a child that is not his, when the only thing he wants is to bestow his aging sense of honor onto his true heiress. What kind of moral is that?

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