Alcarràs

The only positives were the amazing performances of children, teenagers, and the very old in the film. It deserved an acting ensemble prize at best. Carla Simon deserves praise for extracting realistic performances. Little else. The script was predictable on change in values that are influenced by pecuniary factors. The crane removing an old car which later removes fruit trees was too contrived for the script. Was it, as the ultimate Golden Bear winner, more deserving than the Grand Prize of the Jury winner, from Korea, Hong Sang Soo's film "The Novelist's Film"? I don't think so. M. Night Shyamalan and his jury that he headed got it wrong, in my view.

See the emotional perspectives of a family owned apple farm and realize the absolute beauty of mundanity and ordinarity in such lives. The work, play, tradition and love being portrayed is done masterfully through calm and strong integrity. It is not often one stumbles across a film so well-crafted with a clear sense of motivation and devotion. I personally really liked this one.

Each character is represented as they are, in regard to themselves, their environment and who they represent. The subtility of the distractions one faces as uncertainty slowly corrupts parts of their lives and how they live as a result.

The one rave scene was tastefully portrayed and I'm happy to see some hakken.

This movie is so much more than just a "Spanish family drama". Between somewhere warm, welcoming and cold, harsh and melancholic. The family perfectly portrays the generational changes and different problems through a persons lifetime. Also seemingly stands tall against globalisation and "greenwashing". The solar panels in my reading represent the end of the era of human labour, and also points out the flaws of the new green movements.

I could go on for hours about the minor details, but let me conclude my thoughts in one simple sentence: A complete masterpiece that has its own flaws and unique features.

Considering that this is the second movie of Carla Simòn, I can assume that she will get even better at directing.

Whatever happens, I'll keep my eyes on her work from now on!

"Alcarràs" is a poignant, slice-of-life drama about a family of peach farmers in a small town facing the challenges of modernity and capitalism. The film's story centers around the patriarch, Quimet, and his elderly father, Rogelio, as they struggle to keep their land and way of life when wealthy landowners threaten to take it away and install solar panels. The film is directed by Carla Simón and features a cast of first-time actors who deliver naturalistic performances. While some sequences in the second half of the film drag, overall "Alcarràs" is a heartwarming tale of family, community, and the importance of passing down legacies.

What a beautiful film! The choice to use non-actors was brilliant, as this film feels entirely real and true. I was absolutely engrossed by this simple story filled with immense complexity, dealing with family politics, gender, the working class, tradition, the encroachment of the new, among many others. Beautifully shot as well, the film had many frames that looked like paintings. Beautiful and quietly devastating, yet hopeful. 9/10.