User Reviews

An impressively crafted , well-played drama , with a lively as well as atmospheric musical score and founded on a perfectly calibrated screenplay whose emotional grip tightens as it proceeds . Here starring Jose Coronado is simply awesome , he steals the show as a good brother with dark secrets , he gives one of the best interpretations , ten years later Coronado achieved a hit smash with "No Rest for the Wicked" . It is set in a big city , at a neighborhood where lives a working-class family . There appears Fito (Juan Sanz) , a sympathetic young truck driver that is married to the affectionate Juana (Zay Nuba), she works as an administrative in an office of the INEM , where she spends long time . Immature Fito and beautiful Juana are enamored and are parents of a child who is cared by a teenager called Sara (Yohana Cobo) . Due to Fito obsession for cards game , and elevated bets , his family is breaking . Then , there suddenly appears the elegant as well as comprehensive Pedro (Jose Coronado), the mysterious mature brother of Fito on the part of mother, whom he did not see years ago , and who bears a dark past . Fito hosts Pedro at family home and presents Juana. Meantime his hubby is on route she remains along with Pedro . But events go awry because of the concealed compulsive bets of Fito that gambles his truck and salary begin to make an impression on the family situation . Because of the obsession for gambling , Fito attempts to win a round at whatever cost and he does important wagers , it will change the course of their lives .

This is an enjoyable picture with plenty of emotion , drama , twists and a peculiar love story . The agreeable story being surprisingly good , compellingly realized and including a sensitive musical score . Interesting and moving screenplay by Miguel Gaztambide who has written various flicks for filmmaker Enrique Urbizu . It is one of the best dramas that have been realized in Spain of the 2000s , it keeps you interested and expecting . Brilliant José Coronado , attractive Zay Nuba and extroverted Juan Sanz star in the sort of story we've seen many times before - a triangular drama - but it is always entertaining when is executed with style and Urbizu certainly seems to have that . The cast gets credible and nuanced performances that enrich the flick . This film grabs our attention , beginning with a really masterful performance by Jose Coronado . Jose Coronado is simply excellent , he steals the show as a good-looking and eldest brother who holds dark secrets . Coronado is a veteran actor who has got a lot of successes such as "No Rest for the Wicked" , ¨Betibu¨ , "The Last Days", "Nobody's Life" , ¨The body¨ , ¨Gal¨ , ¨El Lobo¨ and many others . And don't forget his subsequent and greatest hit ¨No peace for the wicked¨ in which he won a Goya award playing a violent police . The support cast is pretty well such as Yohana Cobo , Silvia Espigado and brief interventions from Susi Sánchez , Maria Castro and Paco Leon , among others .

Colorful photography with juicy atmosphere by Carles Gusi (Torrente , Box 507 , Rl Niño , Cell 211), deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameramen . He displays an appropriate cinematography and photographs wonderfully the exteriors and interiors , being shot on location . Moving and stirring musical score by Mario De Benito , he is a good musician who has composed superb jobs (Un Franco 14 pesetas , Cosas De Brujas , Carne De Gallina , Al Limite) . The film was well produced by Gerardo Herrero , one of the best Spanish producers , realizing a lot of films in lavish budgets and co-financing numerous Argentina/Spain productions . The motion picture was professionally directed by Enrique Urbizu who has won various Goya awards . He is a specialist on Thriller as proved in ¨Todo Por la Pasta¨, ¨Cachito¨ , ¨Caja 507¨ and on comedy such as ¨Cuernos Mujer¨, ¨Como Ser Infeliz¨ and ¨Tu Novia Esta Loca¨ but especially Urbizu is the director of No Peace For The Wicked (No Habra Paz Para Los Malvados), an upcoming 'tough cop with big gun' movie coming out of Spain , this is his best film surpassing even "La Caja 507" and usually played by his fetish actor , Jose Coronado .

Beautifully written by Michel Gaztambide, "La vida mancha" portrays the relationship between brothers Fito and Pedro, who have been apart for thirteen years since Pedro left for England and never called. This dramatic picture dives into the complexities of love within the members of a family in such a way that the viewer has no other option than to feel deeply moved.

José Coronado proves himself as the trustworthy leading man he is, while the film also provides great performances from two genuinely fresh faces: Juan Sanz and Zay Nuba. Sanz is so effective that makes his character look endearing despite being a complete loser. He is a charmer in everything he does, and always makes an impression in the viewer, even with bit parts. Zay Nuba makes an impressive debut as Fito's wife Juana with a performance so complex as to portray the inner conflicts of her character.

The mystery surrounding Coronado's character and the subtleties of his actions make this intimate drama feel more like a thriller, but "La vida mancha" is still a really beautiful film and the performances of the three leading actors make it a must-see.

La vida mancha has charm. It has a strong, funny and delightful, yet dramatic script. It has a director that knows how to tell a story and actors who know how to incarnate its characters.

We see here a true breakthrough performance from equally beautiful and talented Zay Nuba, great interplay between Jose Coronado and Juan Sanz, and remarkable presence from the two young actors, Yohana Cobo and Sandro Polo.

What makes this film succeed beyond the nice script and good acting, however, is director Enrique Urbizu's ability to create a family that looks real, that feels authentic, and moreover that you want to be part of. The love is palpable in the air as we see them go through their day to day activities and occasional perils. It brought to mind a utopic closeness almost only achieved in dreams, but that undeniable feel so real and so right. Even the babysitter really felt part of the family and there were enough loving kisses for everyone. This closeness is also what ultimately makes this movie transcend. Is there such a thing as too much closeness? What is a long-lost brother truly supposed to do after his return? How is his dejected brother's family supposed to accept him in their lives?

We see everyone's drives and desires beneath the surface. We see lies and we see the truth. We see trust, friendship and secrecy. We see redemption and relapse. So in the end will it all collapse? Watch and enjoy this life collage and its tempered tapestry.

Rating: 8/10

With this new so suggestive title, "La vida mancha", ("The life stains"), the been born in Bilbao (Basque Country) Enrique Urbizu and his daily history to us on impossible loves, brotherly encounters which they leave track, relations, economic marriages in danger, jams and other miseries of the day to day, that of a great city runs in a working-class district. Fito (Juan Sanz) is a young truck driver of somewhat robust ways, an extroverted, affectionate boy and something immature, that is married with the attractive and comprehensive Juana (Zay Nuba), used like administrative in an office of the INEM, who spends long time solo while his husband is of route in the highway. Fito and Juana are enamored and are parents of a boy, the monetary Jon (Sandro Polo), but problems that drag because of the concealed compulsive gambling of Fito - that gambles its wage letters begin to make an impression on the familiar situation, not thus in their relation. The appearance of Pedro (Jose Coronado), the brother of Fito on the part of mother, whom the young person did not see years ago, will change the course of its lives. Pedro is the opposed pole of Fito: a man solitary, distinguished, surely of itself, reserved and surrounded by I pull ahead of mystery, that always has great amounts of money in its portfolio. Pedro comes from England to settle during a time in house of the marriage; he will be, in certain form, a "rescuer", a "protector", like that older brother of the one than one always he hopes that him serve of hardships, and in him will be born feelings that believed forgotten… If something is had to them to recognize Urbizu and Gaztambide it is that, in spite of touching thematic very exploded and to explain "unpublished modern stories to us" nothing, they invent so that their stories work with naturalness,run of pleasant form and maintain the interest of the spectator until the end. Good part of this merit - that is not little if it is valued what luck could have run he himself argument in other hands, is due to the fact of also to have surrounded by a reliable distribution, where as much the main interpreters as those secondary are used to hitting the nail on the head, breathing freshness, naturalness and, in the case of the most veteran actors, tables and professionalism. Jose Coronado continues strengthening with this work the good image of actor of weight that has come working itself in the last years - far it is already, luckily, that stage in which he gave myself to useless personages in productions also despicable; contrary to which he happened then, it seems that now its single presence in the poster already is quality assurance. Juan Sanz ("Wild"), in his first paper protagonist, contributes to nerve, grace and free, being outlined as a name to consider in the future. And the novice Zay the Nuba, perhaps less most shining of the stellar trio, develops enough good, replacing with her accurate smiles her lack of baggage. "La vida mancha"("The life stains") is a simple, next drama, but that, nevertheless, tells on some scenes of praiseworthy composition, in which glances, gestures, actions and words help to define the psychology of their personages and the relations - evident or buried that they unite them. We can breathe the almost blind admiration that feels Fito by Pedro, the emotions contained of this last one towards Juana, or the displeasure or spite disguised that they obstruct to the young wife before certain situations. These moments, at which the dramatic dimension becomes more tangible, are alternated with lucky humor descriptions - mainly on the part of the adolescent and frivolous kangaroo of Jon, the companion of Juana or the salesman poor devil of the Circle of Readers, who with small notes, apparently superfluous, help to draw to the rest of secondary characters and to fill up the contours of the protagonists. We have the sensation of which under that level and modest appearance, all whatever becomes and it is said has an aim, and that the information that is occurred to us, either at the moments summit or the likable and close moments the more, acts a as. This way, although the evolution of history is guessed predictable, is so well designed in its construction, step by step, that gains our attention and gets to become credible. But everything in "La vida mancha"("The life stains") ray next to the substitute or, at least, the high notable. In the same way which kindness and successes can be found in her, also it is forced to say that to his script still it has left some loose screws - by deficiency and that the hand at certain moments goes away to him - by excess. These insufficiencies are specially importantly in the case of the personage who interprets Jose Coronado, since the tried mystery that surrounds it is tolerated well until certain limit, but demanded something more of concretion so that the circumstances became more likely - so that nobody finds suspect whom it does not mean to what is dedicated nor in what has entertained years in the last? -. On the other hand, like Urbizu are able to create moments of tenderness and emotion, other scenes and lines of dialogue sound somewhat hollow and hiss - the one of the shaved one, for example, already very is seen and exceeded. Yet good and the less best thing, "La vida mancha"("The life stains") is one more a film than acceptable: lead, narrated well with ability and correctly interpreted, it has in his capacity to connect with the public another great trick. It is the sample of which the bad thing of some Spanish films not must so much to that they do not explain anything novel, but to that they count it bad. "La vida mancha"("The life stains") is not exceptional by its contents, but well it is related.

We almost missed seeing this film because of the schedule at HBO. Some important movies are shown at times that are only suitable for insomniacs! "La Vida Mancha" is one of the most interesting movies that have come from Spain lately. Enrique Urbizu directs with restraint and elegance. The screen play by Michel Gaztambide shows intelligence. The story is different from most of the Spanish films that reach these shores.

At the center of the story is Pedro, Fito's half brother. Fito was seen before at the local cafe gambling his wages in a game of poker, that by all accounts seem to be rigged. It's obvious Fito has a big problem, but he keeps it away from Manuela, his wife. When a package is delivered to Fito, it contains a red gown for Manuela and a letter informing Pedro will be coming to visit.

Pedro is an enigmatic figure. We watch him as he settles into a routine in Fito and Manuela's apartment. He is unobtrusive, but why has he chosen to come back after so many years of absence? In a way, Pedro comes to rescue his half brother from his gambling addiction, but ends up falling hard for the lovely Manuela.

Jose Coronado was a revelation in this film. His take on Pedro is right. Mr. Coronado's performance shows a restraint and discipline, not common among actors from Spain. This actor goes deeply into Pedro's soul because he understand this man.

Equally effective is the lovely Zay Nuba. She plays Manuela with an economy that is amazing, yet she reveals what's inside this woman's soul. Not having seen her in any films before, she shows a beauty and an understanding for this woman she is portraying. Juan Sanz, as Fito, and the rest of the cast give convincing performances under Mr. Urbizu's direction.

We'll be looking forward to Mr. Urbizu's next film anxiously because he shows lots of talent.