pyramidalapex

A deceivingly quiet flim loaded with power hiding under the surface.

From the beauty of the estuaries (for which the fim is named) to the revealing hairstyles of the main characters, it's all there: much deeper than the estuaries themselves. the pace gives you the opportunity to take it all in, if you choose to do so.

I get the reviewers here who don't get the touching nature of the presentation of the characters. The apparent limited warmth between the family members, called "salt taste" by one of the reviewers here, is Basque. I'd say that's the way they appear to us outsiders, that this is look into what makes the Basque culture unique is revealing.

I found the film visually stunning, the characters facinating, deep and wonderfully challenging to get to know. Here, a faithfully Basque presentation.

A an experience I hope I never forget.

Watched with Spanish dub and English subtitles.

Level 1: A slap-stick, physical comedy of surprises, cleaver dialog (including cleaver english subtitles), engaging characters all well presented by the director and actors. Level 2: Lots of insider jokes, characterizations and situations for those familiar with cultural and political aspects of today's Spain. (As an American, I made good use of watching along with someone who knows a lot about Spain.) Level 3: A shockingly non-PC movie for the American viewer. The extent of political correctness in the U.S. would make it impossible to make a movie like this in the U.S. and provided this American viewer with a distinct reminder of the enjoyment factor of freedom. Refreshing! Americans should see this film even if they have to use this fast-paced presentation to learn of the seemingly conflicting cultures within Spain at the same time enjoying the rusulting humor.

I rarely laugh out loud watching a film at home. It happened many times with movie. Many times I went back to see the joke again--some were so funny, shocking and refreshing.