Solas (1999)

Maria, whose parents live in the country, cannot stand her father's authoritarian ways and moves to the city. She finds a job as a cleaner and tries to survive in a wretched apartment in ... See full summary »

Director:

Benito Zambrano

Writer:

Benito Zambrano

Stars:

María Galiana, Ana Fernández, Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa

39 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
María Galiana	...	Madre
Ana Fernández	...	María
Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa	...	Vecino
Antonio Dechent	...	Médico (as Antonio Pérez Dechent)
Paco De Osca	...	Padre (as Paco de Osca)
Juan Fernández	...	Juan
Miguel Alcíbar	...	El Gordo
Pilar Sánchez	...	Limpiadora
Concha Galán	...	Limpiadora
Paco Tous	...	Socio de Juan
Rosario Lara	...	Jefa limpieza
Pepa Faraco	...	Cajera
Estrella Távora	...	Enfermera
José Manuel Seda	...	Vigilante
Magdalena Barbero	...	Mujer Enfermo

Storyline

Maria, whose parents live in the country, cannot stand her father's authoritarian ways and moves to the city. She finds a job as a cleaner and tries to survive in a wretched apartment in the shabby part of a big city. She is pregnant, and the fact that her boyfriend has abandoned her does not help matters. When her father goes to the hospital for an operation, her mother comes to stay with her. Her neighbor, an old recluse whose only friend is his dog, begins to come out of his shell and these three lost souls try to give each other the strength to start over.

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Plot Keywords:

hospital | neighbor | dog | friend | aloe vera | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Alleine

Filming Locations:

Carmona, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

ESP 125,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$16,929 (USA) (8 September 2000)

Gross:

ESP 609,729,901 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maestranza Films, Canal Sur Televisión, Canwest Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Woman"
Lyrics and music by Neneh Cherry (as Cherry), J. Sharp (as Sharp) and Cameron McVey (as MacVey)
Performed by Neneh Cherry and Tomatito at the guitar

User Reviews

A rare, deeply moving film.

Many thanks to Benito Zambrano for this beautiful delineation of human dilemmas humanely faced. Maria Galiana, as an elderly Spanish woman caught in the trap of a very bad marriage, but able to maintain her generosity and ability to love, is superb and inspiring. Her grown daughter, played with passion by Ana Fernandez, is more sophisticated and bitter. She has allowed herself to be used by a man, not unlike her unfeeling father, and her protrayal makes us sympathize with her, particularly when she finds she's pregnant and the man refuses to help her. And then there is the daughter's neighbor, played by Carlos Alvarez-Novia...a lonely old man with only his amazing dog for companionship. How he and the mother establish a tender, but "proper" relationship is a piece of rare and subtle film-making. I see no similarity between Zambrano's movie and the work of Mike Leigh (who apparently inspired him). Real people, yes, but the values demonstrated by Zambrano far surpass, in my estimation, those of Mike Leigh. My highest recommendation to anyone interested in a film that has soul, without sentimentality or grossness.