libertyvalance

Veteran José Luis Garci has delivered a quiet little masterpiece here; a reminder of those beautifully photographed melodramas of the forties. The choice for black and white for the stunning photography was spot on and made it a joy to watch.

There is nothing extra special about this picture except that everything works so well. The actors are superb, the direction sound and with great feeling for the subject matter. This could so easily have become an excruciatingly sentimental tear jerker but it hasn't. It remains on the correct side of true emotion and the sometimes wry humour mirroring the hurt of the three women in the story - each in her own way coping with loss and memories - is a delight to watch.

Julia Gutiérrez Caba as the cigar smoking, wise cracking mother in law to the servant Julia is especially good. Her performance alone makes this worthwhile watching.

This is my first encounter with a film by Ferzan Ozpetek and a more than satisfying one. This modest drama about a woman's growing understanding of the often hazardous and confusing life the homosexual friends of her dead husband lead is extremely convincing.

Almodóvar came to mind when seeing the commune of transsexuals and gay characters so lovingly and believably portrayed. Without the hysterics of the Spanish master Ozpetek manages to show the witty bitchiness, the hurt of and compassion for the Aids victims.

Mature is the word that springs to mind when the story unfolds and its old fashioned but unforced warmth pervades you. Without winning prizes for originality this film shows that, when made with heart, involvement and wit, one can tell an old tale over and over again.

It's also nice to find exploitation veteran Erica Blanc in a quirky but well perceived bit part.

We've all of us seen them: the alcoholics wasting their lives sitting on our cities' benches. What we don't see is the drama behind the alcohol.

What struck me while watching Baenken is that it is all so believable and therefore the more painful to watch. The story of this film becomes less important than the leading character's death wish. His cynical attitude towards life and suicidal drinking habits are what sticks in one's mind.

Jesper Christensen is masterful in portraying the misery, the shame and hopelessness that go with alcoholism. The drinking bout in which he cries while lying wounded in his apartment is gut wrenching to watch.

Not an easy film to watch but definitely worthwhile if one has the stomach for it.