Modelo 77

... otherwise? No pun intended! I reckon some still don't know how good their life is - that they can't just be locked away. Even for petty crimes - if someone doesn't like how you look or what your political views are .. or just to save their own son. You pick your poison (not literally of course).

Prison dramas - if you've seen a few, you may be privvy to some cliches. But this movie is able to avoid most of them. Maybe the fact that it is based on true stories - on what actually happened (more or less) many years ago. The director, whom you may know from other things, is really on point here. The message is delivered quite powerful.

Even if you do not agree with some of the choices the main character does or takes ... well it does make sense. Not just for the movie, but for the character and his own moral compass and own ... well character! Again no pun intended.

A tough watch, especially when it does get violent, which happens occasionally ... with I assume real images from back in the day in the end credits. Also some events summarized right after the movie ends ...

Personally, I found it really interesting to learn stuff about the situation of common inmates during the period and this prisioner's association, but I think that, just like "Argentina 1985", it would have made a much better documentary than a feature film. I found it far too long and repetitive, and at times tedious. It would have been stronger had it been half an hour shorter. The guards also, are represented as an uniformly evil bunch and their stereotypical brutality would have been more suited to the likes of a Rambo kind of film, particularly considering that it claims to purport a real story.

Spanish justice, police and prison system have never had a good reputation since 1000 a.d., they were rough in the 15th century, but even more inhumane during the franco era, and shortly thereafter. They are not clean and sober either today, but some civilian rights has come to be part of the prison system of the rayes espanoles.

This film shows a very grim image of the 70's prison warden hierarchy, a film that gives you ''the shawshank redemption'' feeling, a film that you may say are full of lost strains and plotholes in the story, but many prisoners where strained away and put into plotholes of oblivion...

its a very well produced film,youre never able to relax due to very nice acts by the front cast, the story never seem to bring justice or light of hope, leaving you fuming over the intense brutallity and consequent injustice, hoping that therell be an opening somewhere in this jail of hopelessness and corruption.

Im not so well into the factual story behind this production, therefore i cant give my bias to the whole truth, but some bitter pills mustve been swallowed over the years, and some retalliation mustve taken place.

So take your seats or sofa or whatever, this is trully a wonder of a spanish silverscreen masterpiece. A recommend from the grumpy old man.

I'm Spaniard, so I was excited about this movie. I grew up in the 80's in a town close to Barcelona.

So, apparently the movie looks interesting and pedagogical to learn about the political transition in my country, from a dictatorship to Democracy.

To add, the view comes from one of the most famous prisons in Barcelona, La Modelo. But, sadly the result is just a formulaic, stereotypical movie. Overall, a wasted opportunity.

First, acting is correct. A bunch of usual great actors with a bland script.

Second, settings are great but repetitive. It looks like the budget was not enough.

Last, it does not add anything remarkable or new to a story that you can read in 30 minutes.

So, overall, not a great movie. Just 120 minutes of formulaic and sometimes boring story.

What a gem.

I found out about this movie while I was in a rabbit hole on Wikipedia. I'm sure glad I found it, and decided to watch it.

This movie is about people imprisoned during an era of extreme censorship and repression. (If they spoke out against Franco in anyway, they would be imprisoned.) Only, the regime went down and everyone is still locked up. They wanted to get amnesty for their crimes and fought for that. They also wanted to get treated better.

The main character lands in prison and is mistreated from the get go. He complains about the mistreatment and garners attention from the other inmates. Many of them can't read and enlist him to join the amnesty cause. He becomes the unofficial leader and faces a bunch obstacles inbetween.

It's a very interesting watch. The kind of movie that just keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Never a dull moment in this one.

The passionate acting from all parties, makes this a must watch. Everyone played their roles perfectly.

I highly recommend this one. Make sure you watch in the original language (Spain Spanish), makes a difference. (To me anyways)

This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 8/10.