DIFF FILMS

FOR THE YEAR 2010

BIUTIFUL

Spain, Mexico / 2010 / Spanish dialogue with English subtitles / Colour / 35 mm / 105 mins

Genre: Drama

Cast & Credits

Producer: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Fernando Bovaira, Jon Kilik
Scriptwriter: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Cinematographer: Rodrigo Prieto
Editor: Stephen Mirrione
Composer: Gustavo Santaolalla
Cast (in alphabetical order): Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez

Synopsis

Uxbal is a forlorn, middle-aged single father living in a run-down part of Barcelona. Estranged from his irresponsible wife, engaged in all manner of illicit activities and running a surreal sideline as a medium whispering to corpses in order to communicate with them in the hereafter, his life is a tangle of loyalties and broken dreams. When Uxbal is diagnosed with terminal cancer, his outlook is forced into a radical shift, forcing him to reassess the squalor of his activities (exploiting illegal Chinese and African immigrants) and consider anew the life he has made for his two children. As Uxbal grapples with his imminent death he comes to a realisation and understanding of the redemptive power of love. A beautiful, meditative and heartbreaking film suffused with a deep melancholy in which Bardem confirms his status as a great actor and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu reaffirms his reputation as one of the most perceptive and lyrical filmmakers around today.

Contains: Sexuality, Violence, Adult Themes and References 18+