El camino

In a small town in Castille, life is made up of incidents. One sister is upset with another's fornication, because they are so alike; the priest tries to make sure that the movies shown are moral and Christian for the youngsters to neck to; and the children keep playing tricks, like stealing fruit that the owner simply gives them, and getting their teacher to to date a spinster.

There's no particular plot to this movie, even though it is engrossing simply for the characters. It's a portrait of the village and its villagers, each character sharply drawn with good humor, a certain amount of sadness, and the usual terrible problems, like the young fellow whose girlfriend is a hundred miles away. The road may stretch out to other possibilities, but the village goes on.

Slow going and episodic over much of its runtime, so much so that I didn't think I'd like it, but finishes strong. There's not a grand story here but it feels like memories of childhood in a rural Spanish village, presented in a very authentic way. It has bits of humor and tragedy, but what I liked best about it was how it showed the grip religion had over the town, and how its older women kowtowed to the local priest. One of them gets highly distraught over even imagining her possible sins if she were put in another person's position. There's also a 'Stand By Me' vibe about the film, with boys getting up to various things, stealing apples, pooping in a tunnel as a train roars by, and swimming in a river, all while wondering about the future, and if they'll realize their parent's dreams for them, which is to be in a better position in life than they are. On another night I might have rated it higher, and would just to stick with this one if you're less engaged early on.

It is well set in hard times after spanish Civil at a litle village . Concerning relationship among villagers , children, gossips, love stories , spinsters, religion until a tragic finale . As Daniel nicknamed El Mochuelo : Jose Antonio Mejias, has to go the city to study and to get a better future . As he remembers his best and worst moments , meanwhile happening a lot of incidents and anecdotes . As Daniel falls in love for an adult girl, La Mica : Mary Paz Pondal, resulting in envy from his little girlfriend : Maribel Martin. Along the way, Daniel and his friends Tiñoso, Moñigo, escape to have fun by the river but things go wrong.

Enjoyable film about social habits , emotion , agreeable moments and sentimentalism . Highlighted by the amusing scenes of the fims exhibition at the cinema and how they're heavily censored by the authorities. It is a nice adaptation based on the homonymous novel that published in 1950 , written by notorious Castillian novelist Miguel Delibes and script by Jose Zamit and director Ana Mariscal herself . In a realist style Mariscal depicts life at a village through the adventures of four children and a group of adult people. Stars a decent cast : the little girl Maribel Martín (La saga de los Rius ), Angel Díaz (La Frontera de dios), Julia Caba Alba (Los ladrones somos gente honrada), ,Mary Delgado (El crimen de la calle Bordadores). Along with other familiar faces, such as : Joaquin Roa as the priest, Antonio Casas as the father , José Orjas as the teacher , Xan Das Bolas , Maruchi Fresno as the spoiled spinster Adriano Dominguez, Mary Paz Pondal, Rafael Luis Calvo , an, d many others

The film was well produced, written and directed by Ana Mariscal , though it premiered late and badly with indifferent reaction both, public and reviewers. Ana Mariscal was a prestigious actress and director who made some good movies : Segundo Lopez, Feria de Sevilla, Hola Muchacho, Con la Vida hicieron fuego, Occidente y sabotaje Una sombra en la ventana, un hombre va por el camino, Los duendes de Andalucia, Vestida de novia, El Paseillo. And this El Camino at his best. Rating :7.5/10. The flick will appral to Spanish cinema enthusiasts.