Endearing and more than correct film that works both from the testimonial point of view about a certain historical, political and social moment in our country, as well as from the reflective exercise on the universal themes of Miguel Delibes himself , author of the novel about which Antonio Giménez Rico based the story . Rafael (Iñaki Miramón) , a young socialist deputy , is informed of the death of his friend Víctor Velasco (Juan Luis Galiardo) . In the cemetery he meets Laly (Lydia Bosch) , an old partner with whom they share journeys and work . Both recall the personality of their missing friend , an upright and honest man , remembering the story they lived together during the 1977 election campaign. Developing a long flashback happened time ago, as Rafael Corral, along with Victor Velasco and Laly are young politicians on campaign who walk through the villages of the high Burgos mountains, where they will meet Mr. Cayo (Francisco Rabal) . He is an old man attached to the land, who was to Víctor like a kind of revulsive : it was the first time he heard the voice of popular wisdom.
Based on the homonymous novel by Miguel Delibes about life at a Castilian village in the Seventies , during the succesful ¨Spanish Transition¨ . There's an enjoyable relationship among the three city people and the old villager that will be the first time they really listen to the voice of the ordinary people . The political background, on the other hand , although less deep than desired, conveys very well the atmosphere of the transition , the bars, election propaganda , the Simca car and anything else . Dealing with other interesting themes , like the rural life, love of nature and its communion with man in a well-understood environmentalism, its incompatibility with certain progress of civilization, of which it is on the margin . All this from the hand of Giménez Rico, one of the directors who best and rightly has reflected the personal world of the writer from Valladolid , along with Mario Camus in "The Saint Innocents". It results in a strange blending between fiction and documentary , regarding a hardship existence at a starking region and the difficulties to survival . The only downside, in my opinion, is the unnecessary Manichean drawing of the group of fascists , a group of brats from Fuerza Nueva who burst violently . In this way his evil is reflected and defined by his actions and not by his ideology . The team of actors are pretty well , such as Juan Luis Galiardo , Iñaqi Miramón, Lydia Bosch and with special mention for the always great Francisco Rabal who must have worn the same corduroy patchwork pants as for the wonderful ¨Los Santos Inocentes¨by Mario Camus . Accompanied by brief appearances from notorious actors as Eusebio Lázaro , Juan Jesús Valverde and Francisco Casares.
Being well photographed by Alejandro Ulloa , he is considered to be one of the best Spanish cameramen , though a perfect remastering being really necessary because of the film copy is worn-out. Shot on location in Burgos and other villages of Valladolid province from the Castilian Comunidad Autónoma . The motion picture was uneven but professionally directed by Antonio Giménez Rico . Antonio was a good craftsman who wrote and directed several films from the sixties. He was a fine filmmaker of great quality . He was born in Burgos , Castilla y Leon ,where he often shoots his pictures . His film debut was Mañana de domingo 1966 , following El hueso 1967 , El Crónicon 1970 , Al fin solos 1977 , Del amor y la muerte 1977 and a documentary about travestism titled Vestido de azul. This nice director being specially known for Jarrapellejos 1988, Tres palabras 1993 with Maribel Verdu , and Hotel Danubio 2oo3 a remake to classy Los Peces Rojos . His speciality results to be adaptations based on the prestigious novelist Miguel Delibes as Retrato de Familia 1976 based on Novel titled Mi idolatrado hijo Sisi , The vote of Míster Cayo based on the homonymous novel and The Rats . He also directed various episodes of notorious TV series as Plinio, Crónicas de un pueblo , La máscara negra and Página de sucesos . Rating 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to Spanish cinema aficionados .
