Alcarràs

Yesterday I went to the theater with my girlfriend to watch this film which I didn't know anything about. And from the very beginning I was surprised with the quality of it. Everything was masterfully done. The set, the camera angles, the performances, the characters, the dialogues, the plot... All was highly realistic and beautiful at the same time. 100% recommended.

This film, though a tad overlong, stayed with me for a long time afterwards.and left me feeling very sad.

A family have a Gentleman's Agreement broken when the Landowner's Son inherits and wants to turn the use of the land from from Peach Trees to Solar Panels.

Fantastic detail on the farming and family set-ups and also showing the effect on the extended family as the threat grows...

Very much a film for our times, t is still unclear where our food comes from when the land is covered in Solar Panels and Wind Farms.

Surely It can only mean higher prices or more food imports that only the Rich Countries will be able to afford.

Reallistic depiction of rural life that shows both the heartwarming and the harsh living conditions of farmers. Weren't it actually scripted, it would have totally worked as a documentary piece.

The movie can get long at times. It seems to lose focus and detour from the main plot at times, bringing smaller scenes, that help you empathise with the family, but contribute few or nothing to the actual development of the story.

The movie brings some food for thought as you see a way of life that is threatened by modern technology, and the push from the rural life to urban life.

The work of the non professional actors is excellent, and shows how much effort was put in making this film work and strive for excellence.

While the movie is a few steps away from being a masterpiece, it is still a mandatory watch.

"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.

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.