Tiempo de tormenta

Superb performances by seasoned actors of a well written and believable script. The direction gives a feeling of truth to the story as it unfolds and prevents the film from falling into clichés or melodrama.

The story follows the complicated relationship between two couples. Two spouses meet in a hospital waiting room while their respective significant others are being treated. The `others' become friends while enduring a rehab program and their spouses become something more during that time.

It rains too much during the film, as the action takes place in Madrid and it certainly does not rain as often or as constantly here as it might seem from the fact that all of the major scenes happen during rain showers. However, the only real problems are that the development of the relationships between the characters sometimes seems to be glossed over when it might have been aided by additional scenes. Also, the ending seems too sudden or banal given the dramatic act that Chus carries out, despite the fact that it is foreseeable.

I suppose that this film did not last longer in the box office because it deals with themes that are difficult for Spanish audiences to stomach when they are not treated in a comedic way (overcoming depression, drug addiction, adultery, intrusive parents). Nonetheless, it is also a breakthrough for Spanish film and hopefully an indicator of what may be to come.

Solid drama that includes love stories , emotion , passion and tragedy . Intense melodrama about two couples , they are Elena (Maribel Verdu) , a television weather forecaster , she is married to Chus (Jorge Sanz) , a violent and druggie graphic artist ; furthermore , the other couple who suffers a complicated relationship are Oscar (Dario Grandinetti) ,a successful musical manager and his wife Sara (Maria Barranco) who along with Laura (Remedios Cervantes) opens a modeling agency . The destination of this quartet seems to come together again when Chus and Sara end up in the same place , and all of them become involved into various tragedies that have fell upon them . As Oscar and Elena, get intimate after visiting their ailing spouses , at hospital waiting room and rehabilitation facility ; later on , they discover a tragic reality and the events get worse .

This is an intense melodrama that blends loving elements , passion , guilt and treason in which two couples will inter connect each other in unexpected ways , as at hospital and psychiatric clinical , and it will tear their lives apart until a sad finale ; but being carried out in coldness , academicism and slowness . It packs drug issue , alcoholism , jealousy and female nudism in charge of Maribel Verdu and Maria Barranco . The story based on a novel by Miguel Angel Fernandez follows the complicated and troublesome relationship between two couples , both marriages are examined in actual time and by means of flashbacks . This is a cold drama that keeps you interested and expecting , including a tragic love story . Hightlights of the movie are the excellent sets from a rainy Madrid and magnificent cinematography along with a sensitive soundtrack . Above all , the acting is first rate , as Dario Grandinetti gives a terrific acting together with Jorge Sanz , and theirs parternaires Maria Barranco and Maribel Verdu . Including a spotless pictorial cinematography by Nestor Calvo , showing splendidly a thunderous Madrid and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence, every space . Emotive and well as stirring musical score by Angel Illaramendi . The picture failed at Spanish Box office , however won 2003 Silver Biznaga in Malaga Festival for Best Screenplay Joaquín Górriz Miguel Ángel Fernández and Special Jury Award Pedro Olea .

The motion picture well produced by Andres Vicente Gomez and Enrique Cerezo was professionally directed by Basque (Bilbao) filmmaker Pedro Olea . He is one of the most gripping Spanish directors , being an expert director , producer and screenwriter . He began directing ¨Dias Viejo color¨ and followed a personal work titled ¨Bosque del Lobo¨ about an alleged werewolf . He subsequently directed a trilogy about Madrid , produced by Jose Frade, such as ¨Tormento¨ based on Benito Perez Galdos' novel , ¨Pim , Pam , Pum Fuego¨and ¨La Corea¨ . And directed two films about witchery titled ¨Akelarre¨ and ¨Leyenda del Cura De Bargota¨. His biggest success was ¨A man called Flor De Otoño¨ with Jose Sacristan . After that , he made ¨Bandera Negra¨ about arms smuggling and a military thriller : ¨Moriras en Chafarinas¨ also with Jorge Sanz ; later on , he directed ¨Mas Alla Jardin¨ with Concha Velasco . And ¨Tiempo De Tormenta¨ or "Stormy Weather" resulted to be one of the best films and the last one . Rating : Acceptable and passable drama , well worth watching

What happens if you have affection to your mate or even you love it and you also fall in love with other person and you don't want to hurt your good old friend in life because you know is weak? What happens if you are conscious about that who has been together with you for years needs you and if you let him down you'll make a big damage and even put his or her life in risk? May be some other movies have been concerned about this deal occasionally, but i don't remember anyone with the strength and deepness of this beautiful and graceful film with big drama but also very tender moments. Because the film is actually very tender and the script has its funny moments too.

Olea's direction is absolutely solid and the story is very well built, may be because one of the writers is the detective novelist Alicia Giménez Bartlett. But the four main members of the cast are also superb in their roles: In this sense, the chemistry between Verdú and Sanz that they have developed since they were teenagers in films like "El año de las luces" works, and the acting of Barranco and Grandinetti is also very remarkable.

But as many other times Sanz is the king of the screen here, and of course of his ironical dialogs, so plenty of the sense of humor of a loser that is difficult to avoid a big sympathy for him. The scene in which Barranco and him have a night of revelry is one of the big highlights of the film though all of it is a big piece of real and tender life.

The only thing that doesn't convince me is the ending, thinking it could be different. But i have watched it just one time. May be i change my opinion the next!!