Bruc. La llegenda

Every old legend passing ahead for new generation increased a little bit, the Drummer of El Bruc dovetails perfectly in this events, how it really happens nobody knows, it just based in this legend was taken to screen in Hollywood formula, about a lowly miner as Juan de Bruc (Juan José Ballestra) according the real sources his true name was Isidre Lluça i Casanoves, therefore it's a crying shame the producers had forgot it and didn't make proper justice over such hero, just unthinkable of the historic point of view, Juan playing drummer at cave could reverberate a thundering rock avalanche smashing the French soldiers in the foothill of the narrow canyon, sounds a bit contrive, but based on this fact fictitious or not a Catalon-Spanish production made this fine movie, after such appalling defeat the bloody Napoleon claimed the drummer's head sending there is most esteemed officer, the bold Captain Merival (Vincent Perez) gathering a special squad, thenceforth all happening on the Bruc village seems cohesive, however when they chase the drummer Juan at mountain it became a formulaic Hollywood commodity, plenty of action, on gorgeous landscape, indeed a true highlight of the movie, a mandatory picture highly stigmatized at IMDB!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: Blu-Ray / Rating: 7.25

Why are they still making such movies? I cannot find anything good to say about it. Just a waste of time.

it is not chance to be more than nice. historical entertainment, old clichés, impressive landscapes, David against Goliath and the desire of national freedom. so, at the first sigh, nothing special. except, maybe, the manner to build his role of Juan Jose Ballesta who gives to Bruc seductive traits, good humor and realistic courage.adaptation of a well known legend, it is far to propose surprises. only a decent translation in image of fight scenes, memories about other heroic drummers, Vincent Perez as a French officer who rediscover his values and mountains as scene of great events. the great virtue of Bruc, the Manhunt - to be the perfect answer to the public expectation. nothing original. nothing out of classic recipes of the genre. and, sure, an useful introduction to one of Spanish modern history episode.

each legend has a large circle of expectations when it becomes subject of a movie. this case is not different. but if it is far to be remarkable, it remains a beautiful one. maybe for splendid landscapes but, in same measure, for the decent manner to present the story. love, fights, resistance against the powerful enemy, Vincent Perez in a not bad role- mixture of interesting nuances-, Juan Jose Ballesta in skin of a character who reminds his Paolo from Hispania. La Leyenda, the few characters who does the atmosphere more complex - first the reporter - are the good ingredients of a film who has not other desire than reminds old values, the pure taste of adventure, courage .

I wanted to watch 'Bruc' from the first time I saw in the news that a film about the Bruc legend was being filmed; it is only very seldom that we easily access films from outside the Angelo-Saxon sphere, but finding a film that is Catalan-specific (part of the production, the setting, the story) is seriously rare (this is setting aside those movies where you can see some kind of let's say touristy homage). But I was hoping for something more:

The plot has nothing much to it; Joan, a coal miner's son, defeated a whole French regiment by hiding in the sacred mountain of Montserrat, playing his drum and letting echo do the job. So the French can't bear the ridiculousness of their defeat and this French captain wants to go after him to restore l'honneur de la Patrie. This is the legend that everyone knows back home and that made me salivate for the picture. Then the film is about the hide and seek game that follows, with the poor coal miner's soon playing alone against the French, again. Oh, and there's a little romantic secondary plot: Joan is, of course, in love with a lady from the village. Classic.

Entertaining. Not a great movie, but still, it is nice to see how wit and brute force compete. Also, from time to time you get great panoramics of the mountain. Not that I'd watch a film for that only but the visuals also add up.