Modelo 77

I'm Spaniard, so I was excited about this movie. I grew up in the 80's in a town close to Barcelona.

So, apparently the movie looks interesting and pedagogical to learn about the political transition in my country, from a dictatorship to Democracy.

To add, the view comes from one of the most famous prisons in Barcelona, La Modelo. But, sadly the result is just a formulaic, stereotypical movie. Overall, a wasted opportunity.

First, acting is correct. A bunch of usual great actors with a bland script.

Second, settings are great but repetitive. It looks like the budget was not enough.

Last, it does not add anything remarkable or new to a story that you can read in 30 minutes.

So, overall, not a great movie. Just 120 minutes of formulaic and sometimes boring story.

Personally, I found it really interesting to learn stuff about the situation of common inmates during the period and this prisioner's association, but I think that, just like "Argentina 1985", it would have made a much better documentary than a feature film. I found it far too long and repetitive, and at times tedious. It would have been stronger had it been half an hour shorter. The guards also, are represented as an uniformly evil bunch and their stereotypical brutality would have been more suited to the likes of a Rambo kind of film, particularly considering that it claims to purport a real story.

The way the people who are thought to be the lowest, the criminals belonging to all the different levels worked together and showed solidarity towards the injustice of a system that sells itself as reformed was inspiring to watch. But even then it does show even with the amount of support they can get, it can still only go so far with the way the world works at certain times. Throughout the movie, I was very invested in the cause and not the characters themselves that much, so when the end became more about the personal aspects, it wasn't completely fulfilling to me. It almost felt like casting the Money Heist actor was because they wanted the audience to feel reminiscent at the end on some level, maybe. Nonetheless, a pretty great thriller, I saw this year.

The whole movie making was mind blowing. The actors were in appropriate costumes. The set & location making was perfect. Overall it's a masterpiece!

The study of the movie was so simple. The reason of the heroes suffocation was unknown, who is made the viewers more interested to know the story. The level namely "inspired by true events" capture the attraction of thriller viewers who specially like thriller movies.

The suffering of the hero alom with his friends are properly pictured. The hero lost everything from his life. Then the entry of the heroine made a small hope in the heart of the viewers.

And The story goes on...!

What a gem.

I found out about this movie while I was in a rabbit hole on Wikipedia. I'm sure glad I found it, and decided to watch it.

This movie is about people imprisoned during an era of extreme censorship and repression. (If they spoke out against Franco in anyway, they would be imprisoned.) Only, the regime went down and everyone is still locked up. They wanted to get amnesty for their crimes and fought for that. They also wanted to get treated better.

The main character lands in prison and is mistreated from the get go. He complains about the mistreatment and garners attention from the other inmates. Many of them can't read and enlist him to join the amnesty cause. He becomes the unofficial leader and faces a bunch obstacles inbetween.

It's a very interesting watch. The kind of movie that just keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Never a dull moment in this one.

The passionate acting from all parties, makes this a must watch. Everyone played their roles perfectly.

I highly recommend this one. Make sure you watch in the original language (Spain Spanish), makes a difference. (To me anyways)

This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 8/10.