Dezessete

Full disclosure: I'm a sucker for movies about dogs. But I'm also, I like to think, a level-headed dog-lover, so I tend to be critical of movies that turn them into soppy love-sponges. The premise of this movie -- a troubled teen (possibly autistic?) is brought out of his shell of morose neediness by caring for an equally anti-social dog -- could, in the wrong hands, have yielded mainly schmaltz. Instead it has produced a wry, unsentimental, beautifully acted bromance -- well, I don't like that term, because it suggests Owen Wilson and Adam Sandler getting wasted together, but it's more apposite than usual, since it is mainly about two emotionally reticent brothers negotiating a fraught relationship -- the dog, in fact, is secondary, a kind of McGuffen to the actual substance of the movie. Biel Montero is irresistibly impossible as the ever-so-tough but emotionally fragile younger brother, and Nacho Sanchez counters perfectly as the exasperated, long-suffering but devoted elder brother. I particularly enjoyed his attempts to teach his brother what irony is -- a tricky concept, especially for a seventeen-year old with issues. There is also a hilarious performance from a prize cow. A gem of a movie. I watched it a second time to make sure that it was as good as I'd thought the first time. It was.

This movie really took me by surprise. From the moment it starts it takes a hold of you and doesn't let you go until the very emotional ending, at which point this reviewer realised he was watching his favourite movie of the year so far (and it's almost November!).

The way it is filmed and edited is great, proving once again how much more advanced spanish cinema is than anything else on the continent, and that it can more than hold its own against large international studios.

The photography is beautiful, really capturing the beauty of small town and rural northern Spain, and showing us the very real world this characters inhabit.

The script is amazing, having you laughing out loud in one moment only to have you biting your lip not to cry in the very next. It's really entertaining and is only supplemented by superb acting from everyone who appears on screen, making you forget you're watching a movie at all. Both of the leads are outstanding and should definitely be at least considered for Goya's this year.

It's a really poignant coming of age story with a focus on the central brotherly relationship and family in general, so do yourself a favour and watch it already.

Another recommendation is to watch the original Spanish dub to really feel the way characters interact with each other and how natural they are, which might be lost in the english dub.

Many times the life is too hard to understand when you are so young and you become angry and isolated. Then there are family values which allows you to get recovered. This excelent spanish movie will show you how love between brothers overcomes life situations.

One of the best international movies I have watched, simple and feel good movie. We need more like this!

I was surprised by this movie. The acting is convincing and the history is very authentic. If you want to see a movie about filings in family, this movie is for you.

Good Spanish cinema. I recommend it.