Manolo Solo Movies
- 2007
Fugitives director Miguel Hermoso explores the life of celebrated flamenco artist Lola Flores in this biopic that follows the mercurial dancer from her working-class roots in Jerez, Spain through her turbulent relationship with singer Manolo Caracol and eventual rise to nationwide stardom. As a child Fores knew exactly what she wanted from life, and an early encounter with Caracol found her dreams coming true when she was still just a young girl. Over the years Flores and Caracol would struggle to maintain their personal and professional relationships, though after years of flings with other men she would eventually settle down with guitarist Antonio Gonzalez. Though Flores may be gone, her legacy lives on in the form of three talented daughters who went on to establish successful careers in the music industry. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gala Evora, José Luis García Pérez, (more)
Director/screenwriter Tristan Ulloa teams with co-director David Ulloa to adapt author Santiago Roncaglielo Alfaguare's novel about the tenderness of family relationships. Stuck in the throes of a mid-life crisis, middle-aged wife and mother Julia suddenly finds her woes compounded when her own mother dies and her marriage begins to fall apart. It seems that the troubles between Julia and her husband Juan are having a detrimental effect on the rest of the family as well. Their youngest child Sergio may have been adopted, yet the further that Julia and Juan drift apart the further Sergio drifts into a fantasy world of make believe. Sergio's older sister Marisa detests her younger brother almost as much as she detests her own body, and as puberty finally kicks in the young girl does her best to adapt to her sexual orientation. Of course no adult wants to depend on their children for support, but this is exactly what has happened in the case of Grandpa Salvador. In the evenings, when the family gathers around the dinner table, the atmosphere grows, the atmosphere in the house grows increasingly dense with each passing day. Perhaps sometime soon one member of the family will summon the courage to address the issue. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nancho Novo, Elvira Mínguez, (more)
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro returns to the phantasmagorical cinema that defined such early fare as Cronos and The Devil's Backbone with this haunting fantasy-drama set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and detailing the strange journeys of an imaginative young girl who may be the mythical princess of an underground kingdom. Her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), recently remarried to sadistic army captain Vidal (Sergi López) and soon to bear the cruel military man's child, shy young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is forced to entertain herself as her recently-formed family settles into their new home nestled deep in the Spanish countryside. As Ofelia's bed-ridden mother lies immobilized in anticipation of her forthcoming child and her high-ranking stepfather remains determined to fulfill the orders of General Francisco Franco to crush a nearby guerilla uprising, the young girl soon ventures into an elaborate stone labyrinth presided over by the mythical faun Pan (Doug Jones). Convinced by Pan that she is the lost princess of legend and that in order to return to her underground home she must complete a trio of life-threatening tasks, Ofelia sets out to reclaim her kingdom and return to her grieving father as Vidal's housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdú) and doctor (Alex Angulo) plot secretly on the surface to keep the revolution alive. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ariadna Gil, Ivana Baquero, (more)
Released back onto the streets after serving her time behind bars, a woman determined never to keep out of trouble crosses paths with a shady old friend who might just drag her under in this drama from first-time director Jesus Ponce. Isabel (Isabel Ampudia) had barely been out of the joint for a day when she went to the local hostel to rent a room and ran across her old pal Rufo (Sabastian Haro). Though Isabel knew that she would have to jettison her past in order to build any kind of sustainable future, the fact remains that she has no home to speak of so she reluctantly accepts Rufo's offer to become roommates. Rufo is an AIDS-afflicted junkie who earns a meager living by parking cars, but while he's a generous soul at heart he's still an unpredictable addict willing to do anything for his next fix. Upon moving in with Rufo, Isabel begins to connect with a number of her new neighbors in the barrio - including friendly shop assistant Manuela (Mercedes Hoyos). At first it seems as if Isabel may be mindful enough to live on the streets without succumbing to the dangers that such a life implies, but when Rufo nicks a handbag and kills his dealer any sense of low-rent stability quickly dissipates. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isabel Ampudia, Sebastian Haro, (more)
- 2003
Manuel Martin Cuenca's La Flaqueza Del Bolchevique (The Weakness of the Bolshevik) is a psychological drama about two people who become involved in an intense relationship. Bitter banker Pablo (Luis Tosar) has a fender bender with the wealthy, conceited Sonsoles (Mar Regueras). He attempts to pick her up, but she ends up filing a claim against him. Consumed with anger, Pablo begins following her and sees her with her 15-year old sister Maria (Maria Valverde). He quickly becomes obsessed with Maria, believing she represents all the best parts of him that he has abandoned in order to become a successful businessman. Nathalie Poza rounds out the cast as a co-worker with whom Pablo is involved sexually, but not emotionally. The film was screened at the 2003 San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luis Tosar, Maria Valverde, (more)
- 2002
When a small-town family living in a proletarian district of Spain experiences a devastating loss, their eldest son must take over the responsibilities of their recently deceased father. More than a little unenthusiastic about the process, Carlos merely puts on a business suit and pretends to go to work. When it comes time to put food on the table, however, he must resort to a more drastic way of attaining a paycheck. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julian Villagran, Victoria Mora, (more)
Directed by Cesar Herrada, Cuando Todo Este En Orden follows widower Ignacio (Santiago Ramos) on his return to his hometown. Things have changed since the last time he visited--now unemployed and poor, the clean house that he left two years ago is a mess, his moterbike has been sold by his son Pablo (Daniel Guzman) for drug money, and his spot in the local choir he had founded with his wife has been filled. Pablo, meanwhile, is returning home from a stint in rehab, and arrives on the same day as his father. Pablo's personal relationships are all on the rocks, from his wife and daughter to his father, and the now-sober young man decides to take whatever steps he can to repair them.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Santiago Ramos, Daniel Guzman, (more)
