Borja Cobeaga writes and directs this Los Aitas, dealing with four parents: Juan Diego Botto, Quim Gutiérrez, Mikel Losada, Iñaki Ardanez, during the eighties, living in the Basque Country, who have to take care of taking their daughters to a rhythmic gymnastics championship in Berlín, something for which they are not very prepared, let's say.
This is a pleasant and decent Spanish comedy in the form of an overused genre in American cinema, the 'Road Movie'. Iniatially, the movie describes the turbulent atmosphere of the Basque Country in the eighties, a time of continuous strikes, industrial reconversion, unemployment, including the terrorist organization ETA, which still continued indiscrimiminately killing Police officers, civil guards and other people. Similarly, a historical remembrance of the fall of the Berlín Wall in 1989 is also developed, an event that will be very important in the plot of the feature film. There is a brief depiction on the roles of the four parents who in reality turn out to be as childish as they are completely uninvolved in their daughters' upbringing. They are performed by two of the best actors in Spanish cinema with long careers: Juan Diego Botto and Quim Gutiérrez, along with two others, less known to the general public and mostly límites to Basque cinema: Mikel Losada and Iñaqui Ardanaz. Special mention should be made to the somewhat unknown Laura Weissmahr, who, despite being a rising actress for her roles in 'Salve María', 'No Matarás', y others, is still little recognised. Here she excels in her character as the exiled German gymnastics coach , who does everything possible to ensure that her pupils participate in the championship. It's also worth mentioning the illustrious supporting actor Ramón Barea, Cobeaga's favoritre actor, who stands out as the carefree priest who drives the bus to Berlín. According to Cobeaga himself, he explained the following: "Los aitas" is a movie I made to reflect on the different ways of being a father and son (in this case, a daughter) through humor and tenderness.
The picture was acceptably directed by Borja Cobeaga, although it has some little drops in pace; however, improving greatly in its exciting ending. Coebaga is a good Basque writer and director, born in San Sebastián, who had his big hit in the movie considered to be the highest-grossing in Spanish cinema: "8 apellidos vascos" (2014) , which had a less successful sequel, " 8 apellidos catalanes" (2015). Being an expert in comedies, he proves to be an imaginative writer with a flair for comic and lighthearted situations, delivering entertaining movies. Borja is especially known for "Pagafantas" 2009, "Éramos pocos" 2005, and "Negociador" (2014), the latter starring Ramón Barea, which was exhibited at the 62nd San Sebastián international Film Festival and won the award for Best Basque film and best actor. "Los aitas" score: 6/10. A passable, acceptable and entertaining movie, especially recommended for the whole famili.
