Turin_Horse Benito Zambrano's Solas offers us a collection of stereotypes which are of little credibility and make of this film a hard and boring view. It is basically the account of a few weeks in the lives of some personages, in the particular circumstance that the father of a family is in hospital and his wife has to move to the city to stay with him. No hint of sensitivity, or even humanity, is to be found in the ogre- like personage of the father, of whom we know through patches of conversation that is alcoholic (a vice inherited by his daughter), violent, family abuser and wasteful. To this father's attitude, the wife and the daughter adopt completely opposite attitudes; totally submissive the wife, whom might well have been depicted with an aura of holiness around her head; rebel and contemptuous towards her father the daughter, who hates him undisguisedly. Social groups are portrayed under fixed stereotypes too: all affluent people are egoist, thoughtless towards others and bad; all poor people have a good heart, but life circumstances may make them behave not so honestly; all men are thoughtless, brute, women chasers, football lovers and sex-obsessed, but for one of the characters of the film, a neighbor which seems to share with the wife the gift of holiness; and all women are... well, they are a bit more fleshed out in the film and considered as individuals, rather than as a bulk indistinguishable from one another.I cannot recommend watching this film to anybody, but maybe for those whom may feel reassured in their convictions about human stereotypes in case they are coincident with those depicted in the film. Only one scene seemed to me of cinematographic value: when the daughter is watching through a passing train a bag lady carrying her trolley; as the different carriages pass by we can see in very short flashes the increasing expression of sorrow, desperation and realization of the bag lady desperate condition. Ana Fernández is fine in her role as the daughter.

Chrysanthepop Benito Zambrano's sincere, subtle and sublime 'Solas' tells a story of human dilemma and fragile relationships. The centre of the film are its key characters, Rosa (María Galiana), her daughter María (Ana Fernández) and her neighbour (Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa) and their struggle with loneliness. All three are broken people. Rosa and María's lives have been fractured by their abusive father. The neighbour's life is fractured by his very loneliness. As their interactions build, no matter how they try to avoid not being alone, a bond develops. Themes of motherhood, abuse, abortion and oldage are presented but never exaggerated or preached.The description sounds familiar but Zambrano gives it a unique treatment especially through his characters. María may not be much of a talker at work. She finds distraction in alcohol and sex and otherwise she lashes out. Rosa in contrast is quiet and mostly keeps to herself but she's a gentle person who is kind enough to offers help. The neighbour obviously enjoys Rosa's company in his otherwise lonesome life and he looks forward to their meetings.The sets and locations are simplistic but efficient. The cinematography and score are also used efficiently contributing to the flow rather than intruding. The dialogues too are simple but very well layered, especially in the way the actors deliver them. María Galiana is excellently restrained. Her silence has a strong voice and her minimal expressions convey plenty. Ana Fernández plays her part with equal conviction. She wonderfully highlights the differences between Rosa and María. Equally outstanding is Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa as the lonely neighbour, the kind of man people often see as 'just an old man' and then forget about as he goes back to his lonely apartment.Lastly, Zambrano ends 'Solas' beautifully. I will not reveal this because the whole story leads up to it in a subtle and lyrical manner that the effect of it will be lost if I said a word more.

jespereilertsen I was moved by this one, and I'm a rock. Even though I did not like one of the morals of the story - that if you get a child, you can overcome alcoholism and lead a better life. Unfortunately that's a romantic dream challenged by many an alcoholic as an escape route, and I've seen many try and fail with the children caught up in the mess as victims. But it's beautifully acted. The story is a tragic one, but it's told in a wonderful "laughter-through-tears" way. Very nice framing too, and silent and emotional shots - not boring at all. Deeply moving. Thanks for this one.

MultiMediaHouse A very touching movie. During the movie you almost start wondering if there are only sad people around. But even the saddest ones (and they now, because they have had a fight about who the saddest one was) can shift to a better life.