Friday, October 14, 2005

LOS LUNES AL SOL
(Mondays in the Sun)

Javier Bardem, Luis Tosar, Jose Angelo Egido

"This film is not based on a real story. It is based on thousands."

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 1

Clearly a film that stars Javier Bardem is not to be missed. He is one of the best Spanish actors in moviedom. Although I have to admit I purposely chose NOT to watch "The Sea Within". The sensitive theme of the film (euthanasia) didn't appeal to me. Anyways, "Los Lunes al Sol" was very touching. It refers to the idle nature of unemployed people so they spend their Mondays under the sun. They lose all track of time because everyday is the same. Yet there is a deeper meaning to that phrase, because in this case, they were fired from the shipyard where they worked. We witness how each character cope with their 'lost'. Lino is hopeful despite his advanced age that he will still find a job so he dutifully applies at the employment center. Amador hides the fact that his wife left him. Jose relies on his wife to provide him the basic necessities but is highly insecure when he is termed as 'the inactive' member of the family. And Santa (Javier Bardem) is the angst ridden one who believes that the world owes him something. At times, you can't help but laugh at their situation but most of the time, you feel sorry for them. It focuses on the growing problem of unemployment and the harsh economy in modern day Spain.

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