There are many ideas being dealt with in this film, one of which is the underside of globalism. We see people toiling beneath the surface in a Spanish society that denies them an existence except in the basement of a warehouse.
It's also a film about repeating life cycles of families, the linage of dead fathers and the havoc they leave behind, something Bardem's character wants to break from as he struggles for his life and his children's in his effort to maintain some kind of dignity in his final days. His character is complex and layered, a flawed man doing bad things in an attempt to take care of his family.
The director is telling a story of life on the fringes of society, the struggles are painful and complex and quite real.
The visual style is claustrophobic though after a while I craved something other than a medium close-up or full close up, which finally came when we see a wide shot of a Barcelona street. But this claustrophobia reflected the world of the central character, who is trapped in a non-stop hell.
The performances are astounding, in particular Bardem and the actress who portrays his bi polar wife. Bardem's face can reveal so much, and the way he is photographed accentuates the pain, joy and struggle that rule his life. I agree that he may be our greatest working actor in films today.
The only scene that struck me as way over the top was the police raid on the street vendors amid the upscale residents of a Barcelona street.
The film is quite grim and the joyous moments are few and far between, but Bardem's struggle to redeem himself are worthy and keep the film from becoming overly bleak. You care about him, and his children, who are the victims in the chaos around them.
It's also a film about repeating life cycles of families, the linage of dead fathers and the havoc they leave behind, something Bardem's character wants to break from as he struggles for his life and his children's in his effort to maintain some kind of dignity in his final days. His character is complex and layered, a flawed man doing bad things in an attempt to take care of his family.
The director is telling a story of life on the fringes of society, the struggles are painful and complex and quite real.
The visual style is claustrophobic though after a while I craved something other than a medium close-up or full close up, which finally came when we see a wide shot of a Barcelona street. But this claustrophobia reflected the world of the central character, who is trapped in a non-stop hell.
The performances are astounding, in particular Bardem and the actress who portrays his bi polar wife. Bardem's face can reveal so much, and the way he is photographed accentuates the pain, joy and struggle that rule his life. I agree that he may be our greatest working actor in films today.
The only scene that struck me as way over the top was the police raid on the street vendors amid the upscale residents of a Barcelona street.
The film is quite grim and the joyous moments are few and far between, but Bardem's struggle to redeem himself are worthy and keep the film from becoming overly bleak. You care about him, and his children, who are the victims in the chaos around them.