Sobreviviré

SOBREVIVIRE (I WILL SURVIVE) is a fine little film from Spain circa 1999 that because of recent important legislation in that country becomes even more pertinent than when it was made. Co-written and directed by Alfonso Albacete, with assistance from David Menkes and Lucía Etxebarría, this is a fresh look at relationships and the human needs and the compromises faced in the search for happiness. SOBREVIVIRE is probably the healthiest and most intelligent examination of pan sexuality: it takes on tough issues and allows them to nurture the comedy that is life! After an introduction of her childhood idiosyncrasies we meet the adult Marga (the superb Emma Suárez) wholly in love with Roberto (Adrià Collado), joyfully creating a home for their upcoming marriage. There is a car accident and Marga is injured but Roberto is killed, devastating Marga who has learned that she is pregnant with Roberto's child. At the same time she loses her job due to her disruptive friend Trini (Rosana Pastor) and must strike out on her own. She is denied government funds until she gives birth to her child and in desperation she falls into a video store ownership and takes on a Cuban au pair Rosa (Mirta Ibarra) who lightens not only her domestic load but also her spirit. Some years pass and Marga and Rosa become fast friends.

As Marga begins to feel the loneliness of being a single mom she meets handsome Iñaqui (Juan Diego Botto) in her video store. Iñaqui is recovering from a breakup with his boyfriend Oscar (Alberto San Juan) and is as attracted to Marga as she is to him. Iñaqui informs Marga he is gay, a fact that Rosa and other friends have already prepared her for. In full knowledge of each other's pasts they embark on a relationship that flowers with a subtlety and tenderness that allows us to feel the anxieties of each while letting the innate comedy shine through.

Iñaqui tries to forget his sexual orientation and is even able to override some temptations that occur. Marga fears that eventually the warmly human Iñaqui will eventually leave her and they admit to each other that neither has 'heard the music' that is supposed to come with romance. Rosa meanwhile has found love with a performer, Rolando (Manuel Manquiña) and convinces Marga to fly to Cuba to be part of her marriage. When Marga returns she realizes her devotion to Iñaqui, and since that devotion is mutual is shared, the two marry. How the film ends is magical yet real and deserves to be discovered by each viewer. Suffice it to say that it is a very realistic and intelligent ending.

Each of the actors in this bouncy little film is excellent with special kudos to Emma Suárez, a truly fine actress. Yet all of the other main characters are superbly handled and the supporting cast is equally fine, especially the 'together couple' José (Alex Brendemühl) and Carlos (Javier Martín). The music, the sets, the pacing, the editing and especially the direction are first class. This is one of those little movies that deserves a very wide audience. In Spanish with English subtitles. Highly recommended. Grady Harp

Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes, the directors of this movie, want us to believe that a gay man can live a life of a straight person if only he meets the right woman, which seems to be the point of this comedy. "Sobrevivire", while not a horrible film, by any means, answers its own question when at the end, the young man can't resist the attraction of another man, leaving the unhappy woman to deal with her new reality by herself.

Marga, the young woman at the center of this picture sees her whole life change when Roberto, the love of her life, falls asleep at the wheel killing himself and almost causing her death. To make matters worse, Marga loses a nice job because her friend, who is having an affair with one of the bosses, wants her out of the picture. What's a beautiful woman of no means to do? Open a video rental place!

Marga meets Inaqui one day at the video store she is now running. It's obvious he likes her too, but little prepares us to realize that Inaqui has another life, a gay one, at that. He likes Marga, and she feels the attraction too. They become lovers until one day Inaqui sees his former boyfriend and goes back to his old life. The story is hard to believe.

Emma Suarez is a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, this film doesn't do anything for her. Juan Diego Botto, another handsome actor, does whatever he can, in a role that sounds fake from beginning to end.

The usually unfortunate Marga (Emma Suarez) is having a streak of bad luck. She attempts to regain her self-confidence through her friendship with Rosa (Rosana Pastor) , but complicated love interests again create conflict . Along the way , she's developing a relationship with a handsome gay sculptor 10 years her junior, called Iñaqui (Juan Diego Botto) . With this sui-generis love story Marga begins improving herself and eventually both of whom feel happiness. Marga and Iñaqui go beyond friendship, but are frustrated by their limitations of couple .

Third film by Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes that unlike his two previous ones : ¨More than Love Frenzi¨and ¨Atomica¨ leave aside choral comedy to show the drama of a young woman who wants to move on , to whom life is taking things and adding things to her. The script is written by the two directors and by Lucia Etxebarria who also makes a small cameo as an actress, as well as the director Fernando Colomo. The story mixes drama, comedy and romance. This shows that contrary to what many believe, the opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality : the will to be alive and to continue assuming that life is not perfect. Concerning a peculiar love story between a sympathetic gay young and a hard-working girl with a young child who tries to carve out her future through a hard life , but ultimately, the two might have to settle for an "impossible" romance as their unique best road to happiness .One of the main diversions of the film is to find out which well-known supporting actor is appearing here and there, these include the following : Mirta Ibarra , Rosana Pastor , Manuel Manquiña , Maite Blasco , Alex Brendemühl , Javier Martín , Adrià Collado , Elena Irureta , Alberto San Juan , José Manuel Cervino , Fernando Tejero Alfredo Villa , Núria Prims , Paz Vega , María Esteve , Lucía Etxebarría , Fernando Guillén , among others.

It displays an evocative musical score with a lot of catching songs : Escuela de calor written by Santiago Auserón, Luis Auserón, performed by Radio Futura ; Alegría de vivir written/performed by Ray Heredia ; Sobreviviré written by Manzanita performed by Estrella Morente ; Me voy pa Sinabicú written by José Delgado performed by Vieja Trova Santiaguera ; Sobreviviré written and performed by Manzanita ; Calaíto written and performed by Paco Ortega ; Eres luz written by Paco Ortega and E. Fernández performed by Niña Pastori ; ¿Amigas? Written by José Vázquez and Paco Ortega performed by José Losada ; Cara Café written by Ramón Pisa and E. Fernández performed by Gritos de Guerra ; En La Habana written and performed by Paco Ortega ; Cartita de amor written by Simón Cortés and Carmen Josefa Heredia performed by Angelita Heredia ; Moon River written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer adapted by Paco Ortega performed by Josep Salvador ; Sevillanas de la vida written by Paco Ortega performed by Alba Molina; La huída written by Paco Ortega . As well as colorful cinematography by Gonzalo F. Berridi. The motion picture was well directed by Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes. They're well known as directors and writers , specially known for Atómica (1998), Más que amor, frenesí (1996) , Entre vivir y soñar (2004) , Mentiras y gordas (2009) , Solo Quimica (2015) , La novia de América (2023) and Sobreviviré (1999). Rating : 6/10. Decent romantic comedy .

A couple of reviewers here have commented that they found it unbelievable that a "gay" man would have a sexual and emotional romance with a woman. However I found the story's plot to be completely believable.

It is a fact of life that a significant percentage of those who identify as "gay" or "lesbian" are also attracted to the opposite sex - some more than others. Few would identify as "bisexual" (which some presume to be an almost equal attraction to both men and women), but their "right" person could indeed be a very special man or a very special woman (if their hearts and minds were open).

Many gay men (myself included) and lesbians consciously prevent bisexual behaviour by refusing to let themselves respond to the opposite sex flirting or opportunities. I identify strongly with Iñaqui's experience and to me "I Will Survive" is memorable as one of the finest examples of fiction which explores the reality of bisexuality.

Iñaqui and Marga have the courage to test the full potential of their relationship (however unlikely it may be to endure) - very much like the passionate lead roles in the superb BBC2 series "Bob and Rose" (by Russell T Davies).

I WILL SURVIVE is, in short, the best possible result of what a recent American movie with Madonna and Ruppert Everett could have been. This European version with less famous (worldwide) stars, though very well-known on their local turf, is the classic example of ground which continues to be solidly on the other side of the Atlantic. The Europeans consistently put out intelligent sex/love-themed comedies while North Americans continue to fall short of the mark in this genre. If you don't understand this, check out I WILL SURVIVE, currently making the "Festival" Circuit in North America. The natural approach taken to nudity, sexual orientation, frank discussions of love and sexual dilemmas, and unsanitized situations (while still taking place in the upper classes of society) contrasts stridently with Hollywood fare. Ultimately, the contrast might be explained by the Puritanism which still permeates North American morals. However, the fact still remains that smarter, better, and just as glossy (if not glossier) comedies continue to come from Spain and France, in particular. If you need proof, don't miss I WILL SURVIVE.