Rating: 
Summary: The vain hope of redemption
Review: "Mondays in the Sun" by Fernando León de Aranoa. Is a film which, as many critics have noted, revolves around Rico's Bar. It is the space where the defeat, its memory and the personal and collective failures represented by the laying off of shipyard workers in a town in Spain's Galicia region takes place. The bar, however, is more than anything a metaphor for the desolation of the present of the squalor of forced 'relaxation' and of the immobility of time, which is lived in the vain hope of a redemption. The bar, set up by Rico - one of the laid off workers - serves as the place of exile where the former workers develop their survival strategies. Anyone whó has ever felt the pain of unemployemnt, teh depressing effect it has on persoanl relationships and self esteem should watch this film. I found it truly remarkable and features a wonderful performance by Javier Bardem as 'Santa', an actor who often tackles social issues. the film will apeal to anyone who appreciates the cinema of Ken Loach, as it deals with the very themes that characterize the great British director's work. I saw the film in the origianl Spanish, and if you have to get a subtitle edition or wyou will miss great perfomances. Perhaops the most striking thing, in my opinion, in the film is a simple line pronounced by Sergei, a Russian emigré character who says: "They told us wonderful things about communism and they were all false. They told us horrible things about capitalism, and they're all true". This apparently simple line speaks volumes about the film and its portrayal of what is one of the saddest aspects of modern life in a society that is losing all idealism
Rating:
Summary: The vain hope of redemption
Review: "Mondays in the Sun" by Fernando León de Aranoa. Is a film which, as many critics have noted, revolves around Rico's Bar. It is the space where the defeat, its memory and the personal and collective failures represented by the laying off of shipyard workers in a town in Spain's Galicia region takes place. The bar, however, is more than anything a metaphor for the desolation of the present of the squalor of forced `relaxation' and of the immobility of time, which is lived in the vain hope of a redemption. The bar, set up by Rico - one of the laid off workers - serves as the place of exile where the former workers develop their survival strategies. Anyone whó has ever felt the pain of unemployemnt, teh depressing effect it has on persoanl relationships and self esteem should watch this film. I found it truly remarkable and features a wonderful performance by Javier Bardem as 'Santa', an actor who often tackles social issues. the film will apeal to anyone who appreciates the cinema of Ken Loach, as it deals with the very themes that characterize the great British director's work. I saw the film in the origianl Spanish, and if you have to get a subtitle edition or wyou will miss great perfomances. Perhaops the most striking thing, in my opinion, in the film is a simple line pronounced by Sergei, a Russian emigré character who says: "They told us wonderful things about communism and they were all false. They told us horrible things about capitalism, and they're all true". This apparently simple line speaks volumes about the film and its portrayal of what is one of the saddest aspects of modern life in a society that is losing all idealism
Rating: 
Summary: A reward only for patient cinema viewers
Review: How can one one be entertained by a movie about the unglorious lives of four laid off shipyard employees in the grim setting of an economically depressed Spanish coastal city? Certainly, the slow pace of bar room banter coupled with the latent rage of the characters do not make for gripping drama. Yet, for the patient viewer, this award-winning Spanish movie becomes cinema verite at its best. The many subtle shades of human emotion and motives in the lives of these characters as they precariously tread in unemployment, are rendered with an unhurried pace which matches the reality they face daily of no real exit from misfortune other than to console themselves with each other. The movie turns out to be a winner!
Rating: 
Summary: The story of the losers
Review: I cannot say I liked this film. The thing is that actors are great, story is developed calmly but not too slowly. Some scenes are plenty of interesting "messages".
For all of this, "Mondays in the Sun" is fantastic. What is the problem? The problem is the story itself. You can use best actors, best studios, best screenplay. But when the story is plain and gives you no new point of view of a well-known work conflict, you have the sensation you have been not a film, not even a documental, but an article in a TV magazine.
This film has been overprized and overpraised here in Spain. We have terrible work conflicts, and some of them have to do with naval industry. I think this film is very superficial because it shows dismissed workers as losers but happy. And those who have earned a life and have raised from nothing are shown as naive and sad.
And so this is not a good message for young people trying to earn for a life.
Rating:
Summary: A Showing in Busan
Review: I just saw this movie at the 8th Busan Film Festival and can't quite get over how good it was. It works on so many levels and really aches with realism. To begin with it reminded me of The Full Monty, in terms of subject matter, but as the movie progressed I found it to be so much more than that. Aranoa's film moves very slowly and seems almost play-like in its insistence and total emphasis on the actors and their thoughts (I wouldn't be surprised if it started out its life as a play). The script is absolutely flawless and has so much depth whilst still retaining a sense of humour. It is depressing as hell (the scene in Amador's flat, for example) but funny and light (the script is littered with telling quips and jokes) at the same time. Santa is also a gem of a character. A must-see movie!
Rating:
Summary: A truly great movie and A dark comedy indeed
Review: I picked this movie out as I browsed the shelves at the local video store where I usually spend one hour each visit searching for a good film. Sadly, great films are hard to come by and usually now come from abroad. The movie's sequences range from somber to hilarious and for those who speak Spanish, the film is especially enjoyable. The acting is quite well done and the cast portrays the life of six unemployed friends for whom everyday is the same as the day before. The bar which they frequent is an excellent backdrop for the friendly bickering that goes on between the men. For those who seek a truly enthralling foregin film, "Mondays in the Sun" is a must and I certainly plan to buy the DVD and add this wonderful film to my collection.
Rating:
Summary: A truly great movie and A dark comedy indeed
Review: I picked this movie out as I browsed the shelves at the local video store where I usually spend one hour each visit searching for a good film. Sadly, great films are hard to come by and usually now come from abroad. The movie's sequences range from somber to hilarious and for those who speak Spanish, the film is especially enjoyable. The acting is quite well done and the cast portrays the life of six unemployed friends for whom everyday is the same as the day before. The bar which they frequent is an excellent backdrop for the friendly bickering that goes on between the men. For those who seek a truly enthralling foregin film, "Mondays in the Sun" is a must and I certainly plan to buy the DVD and add this wonderful film to my collection.
Rating:
Summary: social reality
Review: I saw this movie in Barcelona, Spain in May 2003. It is so realistic. It portraits the lives of those without a job in Spain, but it also can reflect social reality in any country. The characters in the film are mature men sharing the same preocupation "el desempleo". We see their ordeals applying for jobs, but they never get them. They are frustrated. It is very touchy and it made me think for days. I give it 5 stars. Teneis que verla!
Rating:
Summary: this movie gives you a reality check
Review: I saw this movie this past fall in Spain and it has left me thinking about it to this day. For anyone who has ever lost their job, this movie will hit home. It touches real issues and real reactions to those issues. If you have the opportunity to see this movie, please do. I hope it sends your emotions into full speed. It is a very touching a realistic story about the harsh realities of life and friendship.
Rating: 
Summary: not exactly bright days
Review: I'm baffled by all the glowing reviews of this terribly boring and almost pointless film. I rented this the other day and watched it with a few friends (one of whom has lived in Spain and speaks fluent Spanish). Unanimously we were distressed and mourning our decision to watch this one instead of the other we rented. The film was so dark, depressing and aimless that I was actually embarrassed that I rented it. While the actors did their best with the script (yes, Bardem is intriguing when not being annoying - all hopeless things considered) and there are some poignant moments, at the end of it all you almost wish that you had ended it all! There are moments when we cared about the characters: such as the woman slaving away in the factory or when she's spraying herself down to remove the odor of her stench-producing labor. However, the entire episode of the smashing of the light and concomitant court hassles proved tedious and beyond representative behavior of even a five-year-old autistic kid having a fit. Additionally, these guys are drinking all the time and never doing anything about employment; which proves testing even to the most self-assured welfare recipient. The unemployed characters do not evoke much sympathy for their plight; in fact, one almost feels compelled to throw something at them on the screen - namely, A BETTER SCRIPT WITH MORE GOING ON. This film proves that something halfway exotic, with a strong lead and a beautiful woman will do business at the box office despite such a glaring lack of artistry. Come on people, don't we
expect a little more from movies? Advice to directors fortunate enough to land an actor like Bardem: Please give him something to really sink his teeth into and not come off looking like an imbecile. Life's too short to be bored by such soporific cinema.
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