Movie Review: Solas

Story: Most of you know that I love foreign films. At least I love the good ones that get distributed in the US. They seem to be real, rich, textured, worthwhile and different (I guess that is one of the reasons they are called foreign). And Solas is no exception. Solas (alone in Spanish) is a simple universal story. A poor, 35 year old embittered, angry pregnant woman is visited by her mother, who has remained decent, wise and good despite living with an abusive, alcoholic husband. While he is convalescing in the hospital, the mother comes to stay with the daughter. In subtle layers the story and characters unfold. Once again, goodness is depicted without reeking of sappiness. First time writer-director Benito Zambrano has dedicated this movie to his mother and to all mothers everywhere. The ending comes a bit too quickly but it is very tidy. It makes you want to cry. We did.

Acting: Maria Galiana, as the Mother is absolutely perfect. She is a quiet study of grace, unconditional maternal love and dignity. Everyone else is mighty fine as well.

Pets: A marvelous German shepherd named Achilles. He almost stole the movie.

Visual Art: Too poor to have any.

Soundtrack: Don't remember

Theater Audience: A handful of foreign film fanatics and a crazy in the rear of the theater who laughed and yelled at inappropriate times.

Quirky Meter: 2

Tissue Usage: 1 for me but my dear friend used more.

Oscar Worthy: Absolutely

Nit Picking Quotient: Sometimes the subtitles (which were in white lettering) were hard to read when not on a dark background.

Length: 98 minutes

LOBO HOWLS: 8