Planta 4ª

Planta 4a

A Review by Ollie.

Planta 4a is a truly remarkable film. A coming of age drama, dealing with first love, basketball, the usual childhood mischief, and above all, friendship. Basically a comedy, this will definitely bring laughter, and maybe a few tears along the way… I can't recall seeing a coming of age drama with such a refreshing honesty suffused with sadness and humour since 'Stand By Me'. Oh, and by the way… it just happens to be set in the cancer ward of a hospital.

One could be forgiven at this point for thinking that this sets the scene as thoroughly depressing. It is anything but! The young lads suffer from cancer, and while that is never forgotten, nor overlooked, it never dominates the film, choosing to remain almost in the background. Director Antonio Mercero has managed to take a difficult subject, and bring true unflinching humour into the story, whilst never making light of the gravity of the illness the boys suffer from.

Made all the more remarkable by the fact that it is based on a true story, that of Albert Espinosa, a long time sufferer, and survivor of cancer, it is little surprise to note that the film has already won numerous awards, and much critical acclaim. Lead actor Juan José Ballesta, himself a Goya award winner for his astonishing performance in 'El Bola' turns in a stunning performance, although the same is true of the rest of the young, and mostly hitherto unheard of, cast.

Originally a theatrical piece, 'Los Pelones', or 'The Baldies', this adapts very well to the big and indeed small screen. 'The Baldies' is the name affectionately given to the young patients, by the hospital staff, for obvious reasons, and drawing from his own experiences, Espinosa conveys beautifully, the emotions and trials of growing up with cancer, and indeed just plain growing up. The film treats the individuals as exactly that; a group of young lads, finding their way in the world, their places in the social pecking order, and dealing with all the normal things teenage boys deal with. Never once are they treated as 'victims', and rightly so. They are ordinary teenagers, from different backgrounds, dealing with different emotions and problems, whilst all sharing one common factor, which never once overtakes the coming of age theme the film so eloquently portrays.

It is directed with such simplicity and refreshing honesty, that Mercero has created a true masterpiece. Given the choice of subject matter, and the fact that this is, in essence, a comedy, a film like this is a very delicate balancing act. It would be all too easy for the balance of the film to sway at any point, and yet it never does. It walks a fine line between drama and comedy, never once faltering, and it is to be respected for that.

Planta 4a contains several scenes which maybe unsuitable for younger viewers, however they are all in keeping with the overall tone of the film. There is nothing gratuitous or unnecessary; the strong language is appropriate given the age of the boys – teenage boys swear; it's just another part of the rich tapestry of their lives.

This film is an absolute joy to watch – it will make you cry with laughter, and in places, will probably just make you cry. There is sadness, naturally. It would be unrealistic if there was none, and yet again, it never overwhelms the film.

If you get the opportunity to see this, either at the cinema, or on DVD (which takes some finding, but it does exist), please, please do yourself a favour, and see it. Savour it – films like this are rare, but like any precious gem, finding them gives remarkable rewards. There are few films with cancer infused into the storyline, and even fewer that leave you with a warm and fuzzy feel-good factor. This film is one of those rare exceptions, which dares to take on a tough subject, and use it almost as a secondary theme.

I dislike 'scoring' peoples work, but in this rare instance I am happy to make an exception – this garners a very well earned 10 out of 10!

Reviewed by Ollie 6th December 2004.

This movie is horribly underrated. It's such a gorgeous piece of cinematography. It makes you cry without being over-dramatic, it makes you think without being preachy, it makes you laugh at the hilarious lines delivered so neatly by the young cast. It's not a movie about cancer or dying, it's about living. I've rarely seen a film so original, about 70% of this movie is memorable and you can still quote the lines months after. If you think "oh another movie with sick kids that you are supposed to pity" you are terribly wrong. Their grief and anger is awesomely crafted in the few moments where it appears. The jokes are very funny if you can understand some Spanish, but if you don't you may want to check this out as well cos it's one of the best I've seen. And I've seen some.

Excellent! And it is better if you see it in Spanish...it is more real, and the jokes, etc, are more realistic and understanding. One of my favorite movies on the whole movies I have seen AWeSoMe.I like all the movies Juan Jose Ballesta was in, he is a good actor. Estopa, the band that goes in the end and starts to sing, is a really well-known band in Spain. They rock!And the dream of this poor guys was to met them..so hehe...it was so nice to see, and so good. I love Spanish movies...:P And that has nothing to do that I am Spanish. It's just that I think it is better than ANY American movie.It's a drama, yet first love, problems of teenage years. So greatly great.

I don't know how I stumbled upon this film But, really the film is very beautiful.

Normally in India we don't have easy access to such films. So I have to download it from the Internet. Earlier i Thought It was a waste of time. But later I literally regretted for that thought. Really the film is very good. The Baldies are the ultimate characters in the film. Then the rapper he too is really good. Everyone has done justice to their roles.

A Must must watch film. Worth every second of your life. These little kids teach how you could enjoy your life at the utmost.

Please don't miss this film..... Regards

This movie is perfect. Everything is done so delicately, emotions are stirred into the movie in exact dose without any excess, and it left me with such good feeling. The director is such a genius. Each scene is meaningful, there is no such thing as a drag here.

It's honest and realistic, funny and sad, inspiring not lecturing, it's such a blessing to chance upon this legend. Treat yourself to this movie and experience real film-making, not the usual Hollywood mumbo jumbo.

It should win an Oscar, palm d'or, in fact every other prestigious award on the planet. It deserves 11 out of 10 !

Everybody should watch this true masterpiece to appreciate my comment.