You're the one (una historia de entonces)

This movie has been elected by the Spanish Academy of Cinematography to represent Spain at the Oscar's. In fact, I think it has a lot of possibilities to win. It's one of the best pictures I've seen lately. An elegant and delicate direction, warm and sentimental dialogues, superb performances by all the entire cast... make this film remain in your memory (and in a special place of the heart) once you've seen it. The way it touched me is simply magic.

A movie in black and white about a very simple story, about the sadness of losing a person you love with that kind of love that should be forbidden. A movie about movies, about impossible love, about fanatism, about life. A story from those times, "una historia de entonces", with a talented director at his best. Another kind of cinema, the kind of cinema only a few chosen people can do.

Veteran José Luis Garci has delivered a quiet little masterpiece here; a reminder of those beautifully photographed melodramas of the forties. The choice for black and white for the stunning photography was spot on and made it a joy to watch.

There is nothing extra special about this picture except that everything works so well. The actors are superb, the direction sound and with great feeling for the subject matter. This could so easily have become an excruciatingly sentimental tear jerker but it hasn't. It remains on the correct side of true emotion and the sometimes wry humour mirroring the hurt of the three women in the story - each in her own way coping with loss and memories - is a delight to watch.

Julia Gutiérrez Caba as the cigar smoking, wise cracking mother in law to the servant Julia is especially good. Her performance alone makes this worthwhile watching.

I saw this film in the Berlin film festival world premiere. I was deeply touched by the beauty of the Cinematography. The story can be really melodramatic, but because of the Cinematography and the fine performance of the actors, this film is for sure a breathtaking film.

I saw this film at the Portland international festival and I loved it (others did too -- it was selected for the final day's encore screenings). Very touching with wonderful performances, and it looks amazing. It was shot in black and white, and the exteriors in the Spanish countryside are gorgeous. The cinematographer won a Silver Bear for individual achievement at Berlin for his work on this film.