O Autor

Typical Spanish movie that reveals the darkness of humanity. The twist in the end is a little rush but the whole idea of the story is still very intriguing to me. 7 stars for the story and 2 stars for Javier Gutiérrez's great acting.

Surprisingly for me, this film makes me smile often as I watched. Probably the film itself is something similar to the wife's book - doesn't seem serious but fun and inspiring to watch.

This entertaining drama will seem really funny for those who are also writing and procrastinates when there are no new ideas in mind. The concept - one house but different connected stories are nothing new, but it had its tensions and twists!

Altogether, failed intellectual, old puma, immigrants and grumpy chess player keeps the viewers clueless about the outcome.

Set in 2017 Sevilla, Andalucia . A man called Alvaro , Javier Gutierrez, newly separated to his wife, Maria Leon, is obsessed with the idea of writing High Literature . He is really disturbing due to his lack of artistic inspiration, opposite his spouse who won Andalucian Literature award. That's why he moves to another block where he spies to the unfortunate neighbours to encounter stories to write down. As he has relationship with a mature, fatty block caretaker, a wealthy old man with Francoist ideas, and two Mexican inmmigrants whom he hears through the bathroom window about an imminent dismissal. But then things go wrong and happenings out of control.

A provoking and brooding film with dramatic events, a little bit of hilarious touches and snappy sentences. The interesting premise results to be starred by a clumsy Notary clerk who being fired becomes a failed and with not inspiration writer, discovering along the way a motley group of characters and taking advantage of them by manipulating and deceiving one by one . Javier Gutierrez gives a nice acting as a mature man, a wannabe writer who doesn't find the necessary inspiration and that is the razon for exploring other lives by messing with the personal existences at the apartment building in which he lives by renting, once he left his prior home. Javier Gutierrez is finely supported by nice secondaries such as Antonio de La Torre as the literature teacher who harasses insistently Alvaro to learn to write, Maria Leon as his sucessful wife who is unfaithful with another lover, Adelfa Calvo as the sexually unsatisfied caretaker and the immigrant marriage performed by Tenoch Huerta and Adriana Paz.

It packs a colorful and appropriate cinematography by Pau Esteve, as well as enjoyable musical score, including songs sung by the popular singer Jose Luis Perales. The motion picture was original and competently directed by Manuel Martin Cuenca, though it turns out to be slow moving and a bit boring. Manuel Martin Cuenca has established himself as one of Spain's most artistically astute directors, his works consist in thoughtful stories, evolving in skillness and style. Martin Cuenca was born in 1965 Almeria, Andalucia, region where he usually shoots his films. He is a good writer and director, especially known for La mitad de Oscar 2010, La flaqueza del Bolchevique 2003, Malas Temporadas 2005, 4 puntos cardinales and for TV: El Tesoro and 14 Abril La Republica. Being his best one : Cannibal or Canibal 2013. Rating : 6.5/10. Worthwhile watching. The picture will appeal to Spanish cinema fans.

The funny story of a man who wanted desperately to become a writer and writing "The Book" of his life, true and authentic literature. The lack of inspiration and self confidence combined with the fact that his wife (another writer who achieved success) cheats him with someone else, make him rent a flat and seek inspiration and a story for his book. At his teacher/ mentor's advice he starts seeking a story in real life, more exactly in the block he rented the apartment. Trying to write a good story he befriends with a few neighbors, sometimes overreacting or hiding the truth hoping he will have an effect for his book, a good story to write about. The film is interesting, funny but not very brilliant in some ways. I would say it's a good movie, but not a very complicated one. The actors are doing a great job, so it is a worth watching film, the watcher will not be bored.