El bola

Hi all, I've just presented this film to my students, I'm a lecturer at Purdue University(IN) and I read the comments here. I have to say that many people are completely wrong when they think that el Alfredo's parents are homosexual. You have to be aware that Spanish language is quite genuine when talking about curses. The fact that Alfredo's father calls his friend "maricón" (literary, "faggot") does not imply AT ALL that he is actually homosexual, it's only a very informal way of addressing a friend, you have to be aware that it is a very different culture. When I read that someone wrote that he found very strange that Alfredo's parents were homosexual, it called my attention and I wanted to double check that, because I really know Spanish culture and society and you can be sure that that is not normal there in Spain so far. Well, I just wanted to point that out. Thank you very much.

Very simple movie, but so powerful, the type of movie you won't find in the theater near you,a little hidden treasure. Excellent cast and performances. A lesson in life growing up, of friendship, despair and hope. You do not want the movie to end, to me its a sign of something special. I see the game they are playing on the train tracks as a dare, but also a death wish, even as children they are playing a game that are similar to their way of life, comes the newcomer who has a normal upbringing and find the game stupid and refused to play it,shows the difference between the children depicted in the story, one raised by loving parents, the others living their life with no structure, no love, having to fight their own battles.

I think El bola is a pretty good movie. But what calls my attention is the acting. I think they make the movie believable. You really feel like they are going through all what they go through. You forget that you are sitting there watching a movie in the theatre and feel like you are watching a documentary or living it. Also that it's not corny or heroic with a "happy ending", it's real, and straight-forward, that is one of it's qualities. They tell you a story that happens everyday and they are not trying to be original about it, they just narrate it simply and honestly.

Well, after watching this movie, i felt that this one would be my favorite for a long time. Now three years later nothing about that has changed. Let's check how El Bola's life has been changed...

I've also seen movies like "boys of st Vincent" and "song for a raggy boy", but this movie about child abuse is just different. The movies i mentioned have great (young)actors too, but this movie make you realize that this might be your neighbour boy's story. If you start watching the movie, you feel that something's wrong with El Bola ("Pellet") but you just don't know what. And i guess that's one of the strengths of this movie: it's not only told in a natural way, but it's rather suggestive. And a lot of people are disappointed that the movie's just cut after 88 minutes without a proper ending, but i think that's the way it goes in real life too : a life/story is like a roller coaster: it has it ups and downs, but the only thing that matters is where it ends

But this movie wouldn't be the same without the strong soundtrack (highly recommended) and it's young cast. El Bola is played by Juan José Ballesta (my favorite young actor) who also appears in the interesting and touching "planta 4a". He has also a very small role in a movie a mentioned before : "song for a raggy boy" (as the young friend of the teacher in the flash backs)

Great film. You'll recall classics like Truffaut's 400 BLOWS. There are scenes of such warmth and such brutal stillness, it made me want to reach into the screen and affect the course of these characters lives. A lot of assumptions I made about these characters were challenged along the way. It's rare that a film actually teaches you something about yourself. Phenomenal cast and director who deserved the Best Director and 5 Goya (Spanish Oscars) the film received. El Bola's abusive father was played to a perfect pitch by Manuel Moron as a cold, abusive father, turned sheepish when the outside world learns of his transgressions against his own son. You want to strangle him! Turns out it was a Spanish indie underdog that upset a lot of larger, bigger Spanish films. Like the other reviews say, be prepared to laugh, cry, and become infuriated. Definitely a film to check out and a director to watch!!!