Una preciosa puesta de sol

This movie is worth watching alone for the performances of two legendary actresses Anna Torrent and Marisa Paredes, who interpret the screenplay with excellent knowledge of the psychological make up of their characters. This movie is about the tensions that exist between family members, about secret feelings of grudge and dislike, and love that overcomes them. It is about the impossibility to get along with each other, and yet about how family members can help each other solve their problems in life by functioning as a mirror to the feelings and worries that so easily get hidden behind the facades of everything being all right. The costumes worn by the lead actresses are strikingly beautiful, as are the settings: a luxury train, chic apartment, posh hotel, and in the background the beautiful landscape of Northern Spain. Sometimes the movie moves forward a bit slowly, especially during scenes when classical music is being played overlong. These scenes are pretentious and unnecessary. The power lies within the dialogue and settings, not the soundtrack.