Alcarràs

Alcarràs. I can say it in two ways: very good film and I really liked it.

It's a sad but especially tender movie.

For me, as I am from Barcelona, this movie is clearly a western in which the family, the land and work are the same thing. And fruit, and love.

And It is also a beautiful movie, natty, warm and pleasant which portrays in a soft manner the strength that rural life requires.

Its language is fresh, direct and very honest.

Full of things simply explained without becoming sentimental, it speaks of something that is lost, that has been snapped up.

I like the children's role in it. It doesn't become burdensome, as is usually the case with children's performances, it is nice and funny but without going overboard.

A balsamic drama very sweet in form but bitter in content.

It is frankly fair the existance of such a good fictional film set in that rural reality.

Yesterday I went to the theater with my girlfriend to watch this film which I didn't know anything about. And from the very beginning I was surprised with the quality of it. Everything was masterfully done. The set, the camera angles, the performances, the characters, the dialogues, the plot... All was highly realistic and beautiful at the same time. 100% recommended.

Reallistic depiction of rural life that shows both the heartwarming and the harsh living conditions of farmers. Weren't it actually scripted, it would have totally worked as a documentary piece.

The movie can get long at times. It seems to lose focus and detour from the main plot at times, bringing smaller scenes, that help you empathise with the family, but contribute few or nothing to the actual development of the story.

The movie brings some food for thought as you see a way of life that is threatened by modern technology, and the push from the rural life to urban life.

The work of the non professional actors is excellent, and shows how much effort was put in making this film work and strive for excellence.

While the movie is a few steps away from being a masterpiece, it is still a mandatory watch.

This movie is so much more than just a "Spanish family drama". Between somewhere warm, welcoming and cold, harsh and melancholic. The family perfectly portrays the generational changes and different problems through a persons lifetime. Also seemingly stands tall against globalisation and "greenwashing". The solar panels in my reading represent the end of the era of human labour, and also points out the flaws of the new green movements.

I could go on for hours about the minor details, but let me conclude my thoughts in one simple sentence: A complete masterpiece that has its own flaws and unique features.

Considering that this is the second movie of Carla Simòn, I can assume that she will get even better at directing.

Whatever happens, I'll keep my eyes on her work from now on!

"Alcarràs" is a poignant, slice-of-life drama about a family of peach farmers in a small town facing the challenges of modernity and capitalism. The film's story centers around the patriarch, Quimet, and his elderly father, Rogelio, as they struggle to keep their land and way of life when wealthy landowners threaten to take it away and install solar panels. The film is directed by Carla Simón and features a cast of first-time actors who deliver naturalistic performances. While some sequences in the second half of the film drag, overall "Alcarràs" is a heartwarming tale of family, community, and the importance of passing down legacies.