La sombra de la ley

Very good movie, great director and great photo director

Violent and strong film , being very well set in Barcelona of the Twenties . At a time in which there was a great mayhem , as the working class rises on strikes demanding what they considerando fair . While the Bourgeoise class attempts to calm their spirits using illegal methods , even hiring thugs to intimidate the instigators . It deals with a corrupt group , -Vicente Romero , Ernesto Alterio, Fredi Leis-, of policies operating in Barcelona , there comes another cop , the Basque Anibal Uriarte , Luis Tosar , who joins the squad . At the same time, Salvador Ortiz nicknamed El Baron : Manolo Solo , runs a Cabaret called Eden where dances Lola : Adriana Torrebejano . There usually go the members of the elite cops .Things go wrong when a weapons shipment is robbed and the Chief Inspector assigns the team to investigate it .

It is a violent and engaging flick describing historial events when in Barcelona rules the strongest law with anarchist gangs, abusive entrepreneurs , Strikes and Lock-outs . Moving story plenty of polítical crimes , intrigue , thrills , crossfire , and real events about Catalunya and especially Anarchism and Unions . As the film concerns similar deeds to "La verdad sobre el caso Savolta" 1980 directed by Antonio Drove . The flick was well based on historical events surrounding Barcelona city . The city of Barcelona was the economical capital of Spain and it it was particularly contentious , as it was demostrated in a previous decade with the Tragic Week 1909 . Regarding the social crisis with a labour movement divided between Socialists and Anarchists that used both , peaceful methods : Strikes and violent , as the action direct of sometimes indiscriminate attacks : explosion , massacre , bombing . And employers who used all kinds of tactics from the Lock-out to Gangsterism .While the main Anarchist Syndicate , CNT , an anarchist Union majority in Catalonia carried out strong strikes and several violent acts .The picture is decent and agreeable , although overlong and complex, at times . Anyway , it is compensed with the great performances from a long and prestigious main and secondary cast . The main cast formed by Luis Tosar and Michelle Jenner are pretty good . The secondary cast is frankly well , plenty of familiar faces , such as Ernesto Alterio , Vicente Romero , Manolo Solo, Paco Tous , Jaime Lorente , Adriana Torrebejano , Fernando Cayo , William Miller , among others .

The picture has a luxurious production design, being lavishly financed by notorious producers as Mikel Lejarza , Carrizosa , Ignacio Salazar ,and Mercedes Gamero . As well as a gorgeous and brilliant Cinematography by Josu Inchaustegui . And a sensitive and rousing musical score from Xavi Font and Manuel Riveiro . The yarn was well directed by Dani De La Torre . This Galician filmmaker has made a few but very good films . He previously realized Shorts as Lobos and Minas , and a TV series: Mar Libre . His first film was the successful El Deconocido. Rating 7.5 /10 . Decent and enjoyable film .Better than average . Well worth watching.

1920's Barcelona is an interesting setting for a movie, unusual but interesting.The plot is very blandly based on real events like a string of strikes, social tensions and internal squabbles in the anarchist faction. The 'brave rebels' and the 'evil policemen' thing is a bit trite but the characters are likeable so i forgive that. Special mention for 'El Tisico', a secondary character who is mental but funny

Since I live in Spain I've been watching more and more Spanish movies and there are some really good movies made here. La Sombra De La Ley falls just under that category. Luis Tosar is an actor I recognize now as he's been in a couple good movies. La Sombra De La Ley (I have no clue why they translate this as Gun City) is probably not the best movie where Luis Tosar plays in but it's worth watching. To me it was just a bit too long and sometimes a bit confusing as well so more than a six star rating it won't get from me. The acting, directing were all positive, the plot just not perfect.

Firstly, I definitely liked the movie, and the acting was spot on, from a largely veteren and well-known (at least by Spanish standards) cast.

The plot is intriguing, has enough twists and turns to keep you interested (though a few seem confusing, and some poor editing choices therefore feels may have been at play), and it does all come together to an engaging denouement at the final scene, with a decent ending as well.

However a couple of the flaws. Chiefly the setting in terms of location, it is so obviously filmed in Galicia and not in Catalonia by anyone who's ever even just been to Spain, that it becomes at times off-putting. The greenery, level of rain, architecture of the urban locations, the sea obviously the Atlantic and not the Mediterranean etc. all contribute to finding it difficult to escape into the setting and believing it; i don't see why if Galicia was chosen for filming that the same film couldn't have been set in Vigo, A Coruña or Ferrol, and if it did have to be Barcelona un order to make the plot be more sellable to foreign audiences, then more outdoor filming should have taken place in Catalonia. Secondly the guns are all over the place in terms of what weapons were available in Spain at the time, too much so to be believable, and again it distances one from engaging into the setting. A final criticism would be that the fights although well chereographed, are filmed too much in the style of peaky blinders.

Taking all those points aside however, still a solid film, and better than a lot out there on Netflix.