Alone (1999)
Maria, whose parents live in the country, cannot stand her father's authoritarian ways and moves to the city. She finds a job as a cleaner and tries to survive in a wretched apartment in the shabby part of a big city. She is pregnant, and the fact that her boyfriend has abandoned her does not help matters. When her father goes to the hospital for an operation, her mother comes to stay with her. Her neighbor, an old recluse whose only friend is his dog, begins to come out of his shell and these three lost souls try to give each other the strength to start over.
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Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.
Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Basically a feminist tinted story of a lower class rural woman living in urban setting.Maria a single 35 year old hardened from an abusive father has moved to a city where she works as a maid. Her very traditional mother comes to town when her father has a serious operation. The mother Rosa stays with her--their estranged lives coming together. A elderly neighbor becomes important.The characters while a little ideal for instance the Mother Rosa is a bit of a saint--and the neighbor a little too good to be true are none the less very engaging and come to life.It is an enjoyable character study. You will remember these characters and like them especially the mother Rosa and the elderly neighbor.Recommmend. Fun for the Spanish setting as well.
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.
I only just watched this film for the first time. Saw it on my laptop. I just adored this movie ...everyone in it and the way it was made. The first great thing about it was how totally simpathico I felt with the mum. The so unhollywood adorable mum. Everyone in the film reminded me of someone I know. To tell you the truth I was blubbering wreck by the end because there was so many resonances with my own life, with the relationship I have with my own daughter, with the way men behave in real life. I checked out the database for further films made by the director but there were none.???? I cant believe that after such a wonderful debut Benito Zambrano hasn't gone on to make it big in the film world. There is a gaping void out there waiting to be filled by directors of his calibre. Can I make plea for more movies in this genre please. Also on a very personal level it is a knitting movie and I am collecting them so it instantly goes into my top ten.
A combination of an 'eye-opening' plot and superb acting make this film a wonderful piece of art and a powerful depiction of how some women led and perhaps still lead their lives today.This film can make you cry. I think this film deserves much recognition for such a moving drama.