Movie Reviews for Solas

Solas

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Movie Reviews of Solas

Movie Review: Movie Lover
Summary: 5 Stars

This was an exceptional movie. I saw it over six months ago and it still lingers in my mind. A wonderful tale of heartbreak and redemption, a story of creating the life you want--I would suggest this movie to anyone who likes foreign films.

Movie Review: The story is a tragic one, but told wonderfully.
Summary: 4 Stars

Unfortunately rather overlooked as this film came out the same year as Almodóvar's `Todo Sobre mi Madre' (All about my Mother) this went on to reach fame and glory. However, if you liked Almodóvar's excellent drama you will also like `Solas'. The two films have certain similarities inasmuch that also in `Solas' the accent is very much on strong characterization, profound human feelings, though perhaps a little less intense here than in Almodóvar's film.

"Solas" spends its 100 minute run digging deep into the character of Ana Fernández (Maria), who is magnificent, playing just right the rather confused, unlucky thirty-five year old young woman a bit given to alcohol, not overplaying her part; that bears the scars of childhood abuse at the hands of her father, drinks too much, and works as a janitor. María Galiana as her mother shows even at her age that she has come from good theatre, as no less does Carlos Álvarez-Novoa as the lonely neighbor.

Benito Zembrano - as Almodóver - , not only directs his film but is also responsible for the script, which is truly magnificent, especially taking into account certain Andalucian styles of speech. The Andalucian accent may at times cause a bit of a problem if you know Spanish a fair amount and watch this film without any subtitles. Try it, anyway: it is well worth the effort. An excellent piece of drama which certainly deserves more recognition than it has got. An award winning film hailed by the critics and an exemplar for American Indie makers, "Solas" will appeal most to more mature audiences.
Curiously both films end with a remarkably similar dedication at the end: `A mi madre; a todas las madres' - To my mother; To all mothers.

Movie Review: Only connect . . .
Summary: 4 Stars

This is a somber and troubling film, about an angry, single woman in her 30s, whose mother comes to live with her while the older woman's husband recovers from surgery in a hospital. The mother is long-suffering and patient, rarely objecting to her daughter's bitter outbursts, rudeness, and drinking, while not yielding to her pessimism and anger. It is a collision of opposites until the daughter discovers that she is pregnant by an unsympathetic long-haul truck driver. A gray-haired widower with a German shepherd who lives in the same building completes the set of characters, and we wait with considerable patience as the resolution we yearn for eventually plays itself out and brings a measure of happiness for at least some of them. This is a thoughtful film, painful to watch at times, with fine performances, illustrating E. M. Forster's belief that people would be better off if they would only "connect."

Movie Review: outstanding film; technically horrible dvd
Summary: 1 Stars

"Solas" is -- hands down -- an outstanding film that paints a realistic portrait of some of the contemporary issues in Spanish culture. This version of the DVD, however, is totally worthless. For one, the presentation is a poorly mastered 4:3, with a large, distracting black bar running along one side of the screen. The sound is nothing special (2 channel), and it is impossible to turn off the subtitles, which is annoying if you speak Spanish and don't want to look at them. There are no extras beyond a few trailers. Overall, this DVD does not do this incredible film justice, especially when you factor in its relatively high cost. This is an unfortunate delivery system for a brilliant film.