Handia, le géant d'Altzo

It's depressing in a good way... It's interesting, slow paced, you can't expect much from this movie but it's amusing. I watch TONS of Netflix movies / series etc and when you don't have many options left, it's entertaining. If you watch it at night you will probably fall sleep really fast but it's ok haha

XIX century Spain, Basque country, endless wars need endless fodder, and who else would serve that purpose better than poor and destitute. Age old story repeating cyclically to these days. Surviving the war was hard enough but coming home in one piece was even more important. Crippled peasant was no good to anybody, just one more hungry mouth to feed. This heartbreaking movie filmed in harsh, almost unreal terrain tells this saga almost like a fairytale with a giant and a cripple in its center. Two brothers dealt the worst cards in the game of life plod through faraway lands as a part of a cruel freak show. Even having a choice makes one privileged, our heroes have none, just bare-knuckle fight for survival, till the bones break and all mercifully ends.

It seems some viewers didn't have patience for this film. Really a shame because I think anyone who gives themselves over to it will be taken by this giant. Beautiful cinematography, understated performances, interesting historical and socio-politico context that resonates today. As with the character of the giant himself, the film depends as much on what is unsaid as that which is spoken. It is a film rich in metaphor and poetic resonance. Most of all, it's a universally human story about the misfit in all of us, and the love and recognition we crave for our true selves. If that's not enough to satisfy any sensitive viewer, then there's no point looking beyond Megalodon.

One of films with salt taste. beautiful. but without the roots. you define it as a family story. or a portrait. or definition of loneliness. but , at the end, each definition seems not convincing. a Basque film. and that is all. the landscapes, the cinematography, the language are more significant than the story itself.

Enjoyable Spanish film with melancholy , thoughtful events and being deliberately paced . A provoking story , being a heartbreaking expose of society , dealing with the world's tallest man, concerning a heavily disfigured man for his stature who is loved and mistreated at times , while scraping a living as a side-show freak . Having fought in the First Carlist War, Martin Eleizegi (Joseba Usabiaga) goes back to his family farm in Gipuzkoa only to be aware that his younger brother, Miguel Joaquin Eleizegi (Eneko Sagardoy) , towers over him in height . Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication . Convinced that everyone will want to pay to see the tallest man on Earth , the beloved brothers set out on a long trip all over Europe, as he becomes a celebrated curiosity amongst London's upper class . But some businessmen only want whatever he can get economically by presenting his a freak . His sad life develops in spectacles and in a freak show and, at last , he protests to be treated like the human being that he really is. When time passes he has several physical deformities, including an oversized and disfigured spect . In the end , both of the siblings rage because blame each other over a distress .

This an unsettling and interesting film , a Basque-language period intense drama set during Carlistas Wars , being full of emotion , touching scenes and good feeling . Stars an intelligent and friendly man, but he is a really high person and society watches him as a monstrous because he is severely deformed . It is a simple , dramatic and intelligent portrait of two people , focused on brothership , friendship and sibling rivalry which ambition, money and fame will forever change the family's fate . This is an uplifting movie at times, too, not just a tear-jerker or horrific in showing man's suffering , as he attempts to regain the dignity he lost after years spent as a side-show freak. The picture is developed in slow-moving but is pretty well realized . The flick stands out for its melancholy and poignant multilevel exploration of alienation , poorness and despair . The story has a certain melancholic style , a climate of transience and sadness that spread the dispute between the two protagonists brothers . Visually it transports one into a dark, grey, nightmarish world but enriched by some colorful images thanks to wonderful outdoors . It's within this world that we come to discover true beauty , as the story progresses, he becomes the hero . Being actually a bold and courageous man, standing against the evils of modern society . It lies within one hideously deformed, abused and unfortunate soul who is being kicked around in this hellish existence . The screenplay, acting, direction all come together to create this extraordinary viewing experience . You really feel like you get inside this man and his tortured existence . The intrigue is whether these intertwined lives finally will eventually find and recognize . it is an incredibly hard movie to watch, especially after you realize what a sweet, kind, smart and innocent man Joaquin Eleizegi was, it is often painful to watch the way he's treated by some people . It packs a nice cast though unknown who gives good performance . Special mention for the brilliant and glamorous cinematography by Javier Agirre , being shot on location in San Sebastian , Guipuzcoa and surroundings , Basque Country , Spain . Sensitive as well as evocative musical score by Pascal Gaigne , an expert composer who has composed and conducted a lot of scores such as ¨Mensaka¨ , ¨Silencio Roto¨ , ¨Piedras¨, ¨Azuloscurocasinegro¨ , ¨Gordos¨ and many others .

¨Handia¨ is a story based on true events and it was very well directed by Aitor Arregi, and Jon Garaño ; being spoken in original Basque language and it it required multiple VFX and Chrome . ¨Handia¨or "Aundiya" (Alzo's Giant) had a world premiere in San Sebastian Festival's main competition . Production partners , Irusoin and Moriarti Produkzoiak , two of Basque Country's most active producers, previously set up at 'Loreak' or "Flowers . ¨Loreak¨ and ¨Handia¨ mark a further step-up in the international ambitions of Basque cinema ,Irusoin , Kowalski and Moriarti have already teamed with U.S.-based Tom Atencio, the manager of New Order for 18 years, and producer of 2007 docu-feature "Joy Division," to produce a fiction feature based on docu-pic "Lucio," a portrait of a legendary anti-Franco anarchist and master forger helmed by Arregi and co-Moriarti founder Jose Mari Goenaga . ¨Loreak¨ won the followings prizes : Cinema Writers Circle Awards , Spain 2015 Won CEC Award Best Supporting Actress Itziar Aizpuru ; Feroz Awards, ES 2015 : Best Actress in a Supporting Role , Best Film: Drama and Best director ; San Sebastián International Film Festival 2014 won SIGNIS Award ; Palm Springs International Film Festival 2015 Won Cine Latino Award Jon Garaño , Jose Mari Goenaga ; Sant Jordi Awards 2015 Won Best Spanish Film and Nominated Goya Awards 2015 to best film , Best Original Score Pascal Gaigne , being the first movie filmed in Basque language nominated for a Goya . While ¨Handia¨won Winner CEC Award , Feroz Awards, ES 2018 , José Maria Forque Awards and a lot of nominations , as well as ¨10 Goya Awards 2018¨ : Winner Goya Best New Actor Eneko Sagardoy , Best Original Screenplay : Aitor Arregi, Andoni de Carlos , Jon Garaño , Jose Mari Goenaga ; Best Original Score : Pascal Gaigne , Best Production ManagerAnder Sistiaga , Best Cinematography Javier Agirre , Best Editing , Laurent Dufrech ; Best Production Design Mikel Serrano ; Best Costume Design : Saioa Lara ; Best Makeup and Hairstyles ,Ainhoa Eskisabel, Olga Cruz ,Gorka Aguirre and Best Special Effects : Jon Serrano , David Heras This is one of the most heart rending Spanish films of all time. Be prepared for an emotional experience and an amazing story.