Alone (1999)

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.

I saw "Solas" (called "Alone" in English) at the 2000 Portland International Film Festival. It's always good to be able to see something non-Hollywood, especially considering the subject matter here. Maria (Ana Fernandez) comes from an abusive household and seeks to get away. When the father ends up in the hospital, Maria and the mother resist the idea of going to see him, but end up going anyway to see whether or not they can make amends with him.A major point is that the mother actually looks like someone who has been in an abusive relationship (in a Hollywood movie, she would probably look like Julia Roberts; or be played by her). It's a truly effective look at relationships and how they shape who we are.

This film seems like a downer at first glance but there are some sublimely subtle comedic moments, despite the gravity of the situations. Maria Galiana is delightful in all her scenes. Too say more would be revealing too much. This film proves that "heartwarming" doesn't have to equal "schmaltzy." In fact, for some reason the melodrama reminded me of "Far From Heaven," only grittier. Ana Fernandez is like a Spanish Jennifer Jason Leigh, only with more conventional beauty (which she masks as best she can).Warning: Have some tissues on hand! If you liked "Central Station." you'll like this. (Or if you like this, try "Central Station.") Grade : A+.P.S. There's also a nice song over the end credits by late 80's/early 90's singer Neneh Cherry.

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.