Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

dfwforeignbuff The Grandfather (1999) El Abuelo This film directed by José Luis Garci, who won an Academy Award in 1983 for "To Begin Again,". Based on Benito Perez Galdos novel, the film that comments on how families are built by love, not blood. Love is the only bond that can hold a family together, & this movie proves it. When an aging, bitter, turn-of-the-century Spanish aristocrat (Fernando Fernán-Gómez) learns that his son has died, he travels back to his family estate in Spain to confront his detested daughter-in-law (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo), whom he suspects of bearing him an illegitimate granddaughter. But which one is it? Which granddaughter will gain his blessing, & which his curse? This once powerful and still proud patriarch finds it hard to deal with the shameful and humiliating treatment he receives from the townsfolk. As his ego is battered, he slowly mellows. His friendship with Pio Coronado (Rafael Alonso) improves his mental health.(the old teacher who has had serious thoughts about suicide). In the last stages of his life, the Count learns a thing or two about time, love, friendship, and blood ties. He is free at last to cave in to the impulses and desires of his heart. While the film is a deeply touching story & contains very lush beautiful cinematography this movies moves at a snail's pace & is very long at 145 minutes. The great Spanish character actor Fernando Fernan-Gomez (Belle Epoque) won a Spanish Goya award for his part in this film as aged Count of Albrit. His creaky performance is a standout; excellent –well really- fantastic he is in this role characterizing The Grandfather. The film is just a little too slow & constrained. In addition to the strong performances, the film's cinematography is absolutely beautiful. The lush & verdant Spanish landscape is the backdrop, the rural scenery sweeps of Spain is just a beauty to behold. The stunning cinematography literally makes turn-of-the-century Spain appear as if it's just been stolen from an famous summer painting. In 1999, The Grandfather deserved its the Spanish nomination for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film. It also received a dozen Spanish Goya nominations. This is the third time Galdos' novel has been brought to the screen, & this one is well worth the effort to watch. My main comment would be how poor the (Spanish) dubbing was. It was a very bad choice to have the two small girls voices dubbed in by fake sounding adults who do not sound like a child at all. There were consistent problems with the voice dubbing & synchronizing throughout the movie. I watched the movie in Spanish with English Subtitles. I hope this film get a wider audience than it had in 1999 it is really almost an epic of a movie and extremely beautiful and interesting. The Grandfather magically transports us to a time and a way of life that have long since disappeared. However it is a tad boring as it is long and slow but art film lovers hang in there and watch this !! I still liked the movie a lot!

Cassie McLin "El Abuelo," directed by the famous director Jose Luis Garci, is a historical movie from Spain, released in 1998, and it is based on the novel of the same title written by Benito Perez Galdos. It was an Oscar candidate for the category of best foreign movie in 1998, but lost the award to the Italin movie "Life is Beautiful." It is a great movie with fabulous actors, such as the legendary actor Fernando Fernan Gomez, who plays the part of the main character Don Rodgrigo. Other actors include: Rafael Alonso, who plays the part of Don Pio Coronado; Cayetanna Guillen Cuervo, who plays Dona Lucrecia; and Cristina Cruz and Alicia Rozas play the parts of Dolly and Nelly. The principal theme is the importance of honor, rather than love, specifically in Spanish society around 1890, as well as the relationship of honor rather than love within various social classes.Don Rodrigo is an elderly aristocrat who returns to Jerusa after he has lost his fortune on his last trip to Peru. The other reason he has returned is that while he was in Latin America he received a letter saying that his only son, Rafael, is dead. The same letter contained the latter Rafael wrote to his wife, which says that Don Rodrigo's daughter-in-law, dona Lucrecia, has had an affair and only one of the children is actually his. So don Rodrigo returns to Jerusa to determine which granddaughter is his real granddaughter. After he asks numerous questions, he comes to the conclusion that Dolly is the heir-although in reality it is Nelly who is the real heir. Don Rodrigo has to choose what is more important: the love of his two granddaughters, even though one is illegitimate, or protecting his honor and the family pride and dividing the girls without heeding the consequences or his granddaughter's feelings. Other parts of the plot include the stories of the girls' tutor, don Pio, and other people who work for don Rodrigo's family and are trying to improve their lives and social status, like Venancio and Gregorio, and their employee Senen.I like "el Abuelo" a lot because it is a very interesting, moving, and sad movie, while at the same time being very humorous. One effective aspect of the movie is the soundtrack. At the beginning of the movie, and after the credits which show after the scene with dona Lucrecia and the politician, the song "Gymnopedie," by Erik Satie plays in the background. This song is very emotional and serves to bring the different scenes together. Also, that the song is a little sad, yet beautiful at the same time is a symbol that continues from the beginning until the end of the movie. In my opinion, the two more important defects are the excessive length and the dubbing of the voices of the young girls with voices of two grown woman. I think that the acting is incredible, especially that of Fernando Fernan Gomez and Rafael Alonso. Together they are very funny, for example, in the scene in the end of the movie. When don Rodrigo receives the news that Nelly is the actual heir and that dona Lucrecia is going to leave with his two granddaughters, he wants to die, just like don Pio wants to die. But when he says this, don Pio says that he won't allow it, that he cannot have the death of don Rodrigo on his conscience. When don Rodrigo ignores him don Pio says to himself, "They won't even let you die in peace, Coronado." It is possible that if the role of don Pio had been played by another actor, in the sad circumstances surrounding the scene, it would not have been so funny. However, in my opinion the type of the relationship between Fernando Fernan Gomez and Rafael Alonso, along with the script and the direction of Luis Garci, all these things together are the reason "el Abuelo" has a great balance of sadness and comedy.

George Parker Or does one have to? The matter is posed to an old man (El Abuelo aka the Grandfather) returning penniless from intrigues abroad to the village where he was once a respected aristocrat. In search of the truth about his two beautiful granddaughters, the sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet old man is met with insincerity and chicanery.Some may view the film as plodding and uneventful. However, those with an understanding of the importance family honor to an old world aristocrat or the meaning of love to a disenfranchised old man will likely be captivated by its subtle charms. The old Spanish architecture, pastoral beauty, and sumptuous cinematography should appeal to all.

daveyo Wonderful, lovely, warm, rich story of an impoverished, very old, Spanish aristocrat (El Abuelo - the grandfather) whose son is dead, and whose daughter-in-law has two daughters. One of these granddaughters is the son of El Abuelo, and one is the product of an affair - which has highly affronted the old man's honor. And he wants to find out which is which. Ultimately, he discovers he loves them both, and with a little help from another wonderful character, decides that love is more important than honor. Absolutely terrific. Leisurely pace, good cinematography complement story line and excellent performances. (In Spanish with subtitles).****