Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados

This charming, quirky film written and directed by David Trueba seems tailor-made for Javier Cámara who delivers a tender performance. (Viewers will remember Cámara's role as Simon in the wonderful film The Silent Life of Words.) Here Cámara plays Antonio, a high school English and Latin teacher, on a quest to meet John Lennon. Lennon is briefly in Almeria (south-eastern Spain; preferred location for Spaghetti Westerns). The movie title, Living is Easy With Eyes Closed is a line from Strawberry Fields Forever which Lennon wrote while in Almeria. En route to the coast, the optimistic and playful Antonio first picks up Belen and later Juan Jo, both runaways. At the final destination, the trio soon meet Ramon, a bar owner, and his disabled son Bruno. The story's themes, among others, are kindness, friendship, determination, dignity, bullying and revenge. To me the movie title is ironic since Antonio doesn't go through life with his eyes closed; he sees and understands everything. There are gaps in the film: after a theater scene why is Belen driving while Antonio appears drunk? Yet, the brutal face slapping and ear pulling are true of these times under Franco's regime. Watch this film, it's worth it.

The factual story of Juan Carrion has never been spread before and should be known by everyone interested in The Beatles and involved in Education from now on thanks to this great movie. It shows an actual character, a Spanish teacher of English who begun to teach English through Beatles songs as soon as the Fabs became famous and when he found out John Lennon was acting in Almeria location he aimed to meet him to thank him for his involuntary played role as a teacher -ironic, being John so reluctant of teachers-. The plot is not focused only on this teacher but on two youngsters who have left their homes for different reasons. It is a good feelings road movie to Almeria, where by that year of 1966 had turned into the European Hollywood. Since Lawrence of Arabia was shot over there, Clint Eastwood,Anthonny Quinn, Brigite Bardot and so many other stars had passed by the same sunny place than John Lennon. It was not because of his likening of The Beatles, nor liberty nor politics who drove Juan to meet John but his deep respect for his pupils. He wanted to have the lyrics first to provide their pupils with them as soon as possible. For millions of non-English native speakers Beatles fans around the world Beatles songs used to mean more sounds than words and messages. Unfortunately, for those whose mother tongue is English have been very difficult to understand that English have to be learned hardly day by day. When Seargent Pepper's album came out with its lyrics printed, that decision was taken as a normal one. But no one -not even the cleverest Beatles researchers- until nowadays had a reason why The Beatles decided to do so. The reason remained in Almeria, Spain, between John and this man called Juan Carrion. I sincerely hope 'Living is easy' gets to your countries soon so that you can enjoy of this beautiful movie and the story behind.

Entertaining and fun movie filled with interesting characters , humor , drama and good feeling . Living Is Easy With Your Eyes Closed (Vivir Es Fácil Con Los Ojos Cerrados) was the big winner at the 28th Goya Awards ceremony, landing the Spanish Film Academy's two top prizes -- best film and best director - . It is inspired by actual events in 1966, it's a comedy road movie about an English teacher (Javier Camera) obsessed with the Beatles . As he motivated his students using Beatles music . He hears that John Lennon is in Spain and he then decides to go to Almeria . Along the way , Antonio picks up two runaways passengers , a teenager (Francesc Colomer) and a pregnant girl (Natalia De Molina) . As in Almeria is John Lennon acting in the comedy How I Won The War . They were looking for John Lennon and they found themselves .

This is a marvelous ode to adolescence plenty of innocence , friendship , cooperation , curiosity and comradeship . The movie title, Living is Easy With Eyes Closed, comes from a line in Lennon's song Strawberry Fields Forever which he wrote while filming How I Won the War in Almeria . Director David Trueba shows these important and universal values through adolescents's minds . It is a notorious picture of great educational content , including an enjoyable , attractive message and amusing and fun scenes . Spanish cinema has a great ability in dealing with films about teenagers as well as adults , with interesting and thought-provoking messages that are a clear example of an allegory of notorious values such as friendship , honor , collaboration and love . "Vivir Es Facil con Ojos Cerrados " is a song and an allegory to teens , where curiosity and innocence are the most characteristic attributes having adolescents as well as adults well represented by Javier Camera . We do see the world we know each and every one of us, but from his innocent look , with much more easygoing . That's where all the power comes from this movie, because of their three protagonists with a greater sense of loyalty , confidence , fidelity and honor which is contemplated in the touching relationships . ¨Living Is Easy With Your Eyes Closed " is a splendid ode to adolescence , a nostalgic trip to the past in which we become teens an hour and a half , where everything was discovered , in which an adventurous trip emerges serious things . It's a teen's movie but its strength lies in its universal character , not a story just for adolescents , it's for everyone . Fabulous acting by Javier Camera as Antonio, an English teacher who drives to Almeria in hopes of meeting his hero, John Lennon and on rout picks up two young passengers . Javier steals the show as sympathetic bachelor who has an adolescent thought . This entertaining film displays a colorful as well as evocative cinematography by Daniel Vilar . In addition , a sensitive and rousing musical score by Pat Metheny , including wonderful songs .

The motion picture was compellingly directed by David Trueba, getting a considerable hit smash . Six Goyas landed in the laps of director David Trueba , as he film won best picture, director, screenplay, actor, new actor, and soundtrack . David Trueba was born (1969) in Madrid, Spain . Married to Ariadna Gil (who here plays as mother) , though nowadays separated and he is younger brother of Fernando Trueba and brother-in-law of Cristina Huete who along with Andres Vicente Gomez produced a lot of films . David is a nice writer such as ¨The girl of your eyes¨ Perdita Durango (1997). Known for comedies such as ¨The good life¨ , ¨Masterpiece¨ , ¨Madrid 1987¨ , ¨Welcome home¨ and of course "Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed". Rating : Better than average. Well worth watching .

This is a quiet gentle movie full of humor and understanding about the sometimes painful but rewarding journey to adult hood.

Of huge assistance to those young folk making this journey is a really talented teacher; don't just take my word for it - learn from the movie what Lennon did to assist the teacher in his quest.

Also interesting to show what life is like living in a fascist state - fascism starts in the family and at school.

The director David Trueba is clearly a talent to watch - he was a screenwriter on the much darker confronting but interesting Perdita Durango (Dance with the devil - 1997) - he clearly has real insight into human nature. This is a much kinder more thoughtful film and one for all of us.

9/10 for me (there are no tens).

I saw this movie on an international flight with United Airlines from the USA to Germany. In summary, it is a refreshing tale that layers many of life's lessons into the backdrop of the intrigue of the "mid-early" days of the Beatles -- with the focus on John Lennon. The summary plot is of a Spanish school teacher who is teaching English, and who happens to appear to be obsessed with John Lennon, decides to drive to the south of Spain (AWOL from work). On the way, he picks up and ends up somewhat parenting, "life coaching", and probable saving two run aways, along with himself. As a side note, the two runaways fall in love through a very circuitous route. In the end, Lennon is found, and you need to see the movie for the rest.

I only saw the movie this week and fell in love with it. I wanted to show my family tonight, but found it is not available for sale. OMG!!! That is a travesty.... Someone have the sense to share this post/review and send it to someone who wants to make money from this film. I, for one, would pay to own it. Just after one viewing...!!