Tapas

For an American, regularly exposed to American movies, "Tapas" is a unique and unusual experience. There are no special effects. There is no computer scenery. It is an Altman-like ensemble piece with closely related multiple story lines performed by the most talented of actors. The main characters include a middle-age divorcée looking for love, a bistro owner with a low opinion of the human race, two young supermarket stockers with party on their minds, an old lady who peddles drugs to finance her and her husband's declining years, and a Chinese chef. This is one of the most realistic and entertaining European movies that I've seen in some time. Highly recommended.

The flick gives a short description about lives of people under the focus of a lower-middle class neighborhood . The small, everyday stories of a group of neighbours who live in a suburb of Barcelona, and the little secrets that they hide . The tale introduces us an old marriage , as husband (Alberto De Mendoza) suffers cancer , as his wife (Maria Galiana) does business with dope , a spinster (Elvira Minguez) who falls in love for a young man (Ruben Ochandiano) , and a barman (Angel De Andres Lopez) who hires a Chinese boy expert on martial arts .

¨Tapas" turns out to be a moving drama well realized by Jose Corbacho and Juan Cruz about human relationships . This is an interesting Dramedy : drama more comedy in less than 90 minutes of length and yet with an air of naturalness and credibility . This is a thought-provoking as well as pleasant flick filmed with great sensitivity and feeling . The film knows very well inter-cross these two genres , drama with brief touches of comedy , although the most comfortable note in the enjoyable drama . It's less fun, but no less likable , though some infinite sadness follows the film at times . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable , with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few disconcerting . It's an intelligent and touching story although sometimes is slow moving and tiring but is finely developed with sense of style and sensibility . Attractive drama filled with emotion , artistic scenes and plenty of sensitivity . There are moments of humor, but predominates drama and above all, there's a good feeling . The picture relies heavily on the unusual relationship between a frustrated woman and a 20-year-old shopkeeper , but it doesn't makes boring , but results to be entertaining . This is an amusing movie plenty of nice feeling , drama , stirring scenes and a peculiar love story . Interesting screenplay by the same filmmakers , including some autobiographic elements . Most of the film locations are around the Santa Eulalia neighborhood in the city of Hospitalet De Llobregat which is the neighborhood where director José Corbacho grow up.

The picture is primarily supported on two sensational players, Alberto Mendoza and Maria Galiana they give sensational acting . Both of them carry out their characters to perfection and show a look that says it all . Furthermore , stand out Ángel de Andrés López as Lolo , Elvira Mínguez as Raquel and Rubén Ochandiano as César . Support cast is frankly well such as Blanca Apìlanez , Amparo Moreno and Rosario Pardo . Emotive musical score by Pablo Sala , the soundtrack flows great with the film in every way, and creates a catching atmosphere in every moment , adding a sensitive leitmotif . The film enjoys a breeze as well as moving final , and gives us much to think about it and in which doesn't deceive or dramatize unnecessarily. Along these lines, it is clear that writers/filmmakers Jose Corbacho, Juan Cruz try to create a peculiar picture . Apart from that , it has a touch Berlanga and Azcona that always feels good . The motion picture was professionally written and directed by Jose Corbacho and Juan Cruz at their best . Both of whom presents a fresh portrait with moments to smile and laugh , but mostly so that you shrink the heart with these unfortunate people . Corbacho and Cruz have written and directed various films and TV pictures such as ¨Pelotas¨, ¨Cobardes¨ , ¨Somos Gente Honrada¨ and ¨Holmes & Watson. Madrid Days¨, among others .

First of all: if you think sex with prostitutes and recreational use of illegal drugs are always bad actions, this movie is not for you. I'm not saying this movie is drenched in all that stuff. It actually is not. But it does treat these subjects as commonplace, at least for some people. And it does not judge them, even if it makes fun at them at times. I like that.

About the story and the looks of it: This is a movie that deals with some serious realities, mostly emotional ones, but with strong humorous overtones. I understand the story happens in a neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, but it looks like somewhere the tourists do not know. This feels deep and warm. Very nice, in short.

Far from trying to be smarter than it is, this beautiful little film actually achieves to be more honest and lyrical than most of the films on the market. It is a nostalgic, outstanding opera prima of its authors; an honest and caring photograph of a certain neighbourhood and its people. Although not neutral nor indifferent, it accomplishes to be non judgmental, and tells a story of people in different stages of life; the hidden secrets we all carry within and the solitude that accompanies us all. I highly recommend this film that is funny but never lightheaded, melancholic but never pretentious, humble but never loses its love for its characters with their imperfections and secrets. Like life itself. A joyful example of new European film making with heart and soul. 10 out of 10.

This is a film that shows the different love relations between common people in a neighbourhood around a Tapas-bar. The film keeps you tied to your seat, just wanting to see what's happening next, and takes you closer to people's feelings, and recapitulation of concepts in front of extreme situations that alter their reality. From the old lady who sells drugs in the Tapas-bar, afraid of loosing her husband. The owner of the bar, whose wife runs away tired of him, and he prefers to hide his new situation, the woman in the local shop, that lives on her own and keeps a relationship throughout internet but falls for a physical relation with a younger men, all spiced with a pinch of Spanish humour, reality and sadness. The cast is pretty good, the new talent Rubén Ochandiano, or consecrated actors such as Angel De Andrés López, Elvira Minguez or the Argentinian Alberto De Mendoza. All in all, it's a good taste of Spanish cinema, besides the world known imagination of Almodovar.