El Bola (2000)

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A boy from an abusive home finds a new lease on life through friendship in this drama from Spain. Pablo (Juan Jose Ballesta) is a 12-year-old boy growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood in Madrid. Pablo doesn't have many friends, and his home life is not happy -- his father Mariano (Manuel Maron) often beats him, and his mother Aurora (Golria Munoz) doesn't know what to do about it. Alfredo (Pablo Galan) is a new boy in town who has just enrolled in Pablo's class at school; Pablo and Alfredo strike up an immediate friendship, and Pablo feels comfortable with Alfredo's family, particularly his father Jose (Alberto Gimenez), who draws tattoos for a living, and his mother Marisa (Nieve de Medina). Alfredo's godfather has been hospitalized with AIDS-related illnesses, and when Alfredo goes to visit him, Pablo tags along, which angers Mariano and leads to another violent episode. Alfredo notices Pablo's bruises and tells his parents, and Jose enlists a social worker, Laura (Ana Wagener), to help find a safer environment for the boy. El Bola was produced in association with UNICEF. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Director(s):: Achero Manas

Format(s):: DVD, (View All Versions)

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Synopsis of El Bola

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Complete Cast of El Bola

Carmen del Valle - Camarera Bar
Andres Gertrudix - Javi
Manuel Morón - Mariano
Juan José Ballesta - Pablo

Director(s):: Achero Manas

Writer(s):: Achero Manas

El Bola Awards:

2001 - European Film Academy - Fassbinder Award

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Member Reviews (6)

	Robert E.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

For me, El Bola (the Pellet or the Marble)is a film more about friendship between the boys than it is about child abuse. The Spanish director, Achero Manas, did a admirable job of coaxing two very believable and angaging performances from all his child and adult actors but especially from his two pre-teen lead actors: the newcomer Pablo Galan (Alfredo)and Juan Jose Ballesta (Pablo) who did have a bit of acting experience before landing one of the leads in this film. The lives of most of the characters as well as the harsh depiction of parental child abuse seemed credible making the scene(s)of child abuse painful to watch. I not sure if this film has won awards but it should!

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	Julianna O.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

i loved this movie so much i didnt want it to end. the plot was haunting and the relationship between the boys was so pure and strong, it was electric! and Jose (Alfredo's father) was right on target about every step he took... brilliant!

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	Debi F.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

MUST SEE. THE TALE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TWO YOUNG BOYS ALFREDO AND PABLO/PELLET. THE ABUSE OF PELLET BY HIS FATHER BRINGS THE BOYS CLOSER. TOUCHING AND CAPTIVATING.

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