Piedras (2002)

Director:

Ramón Salazar

Writer:

Ramón Salazar (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

"In life, we first organize large stones (Piedras) such as love, friendship, family, and a career." In this way...

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Antonia San Juan	...	Adela
Najwa Nimri	...	Leire
Vicky Peña	...	Maricarmen
Mónica Cervera	...	Anita
Ángela Molina	...	Isabel
Lola Dueñas	...	Daniela
María Casal	...	Martina
Daniele Liotti	...	Kun
Rodolfo De Souza	...	Leonardo
Enrique Alcides	...	Joaquín
Nacho Duato	...	Podólogo
Andrés Gertrúdix	...	Javier
Santiago Crespo	...	Víctor
Manuel de Blas	...	Empresario
Geli Albaladejo	...	Araceli

Also Known As:

Stones (International: English title)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:7 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Almada, Almada, Portugal

Company:

Alquimia Cinema

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the second scene at the chiropodist, a cameraman can be seen reflected in the glass window.

Movie Connections:

References Pretty Woman (1990)

Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane…

The movie begins a with mentally-challenged girl with bright yellow sneakers looking skyward on a Madrid street corner and being spellbound by a passing plane. The movie examines the life of five women—Adela, Leire, Maricarmen, Anita & Isabel—who have completely different lives and choices of shoes. Their shoes is the first superficial, yet affixed with some glancing meaning, clue we get at their fragile identities. In a theatrically embroidered and embellished way, a podiatrist tries to esoterically reveal the deepest secrets of a woman's souls by the sole of her feet. The premise is risky and slightly contrived, but the tone and depth of the movie takes a daring plunge for the good.

What may have been light-hearted and superficial, quickly switches gear with the a superb dysfunctional couple scene that leaves the viewer riveted for minutes, seeing the love or lack thereof, the pain, the confusion, the hope, the needs and escape mechanisms develop through minutes different rooms of the house and down to the street and eventually below... What a scene (!) , but there will be others as effective to follow and strengthen the strong characterization and directing displayed in this slice of life affair.

Moving along, a woman has lost the husband she loved and inherited his kids and his taxi, while another has completely lost her husband emotionally, sexually, intellectually, but not physically. A ghost, a pending divorce… reproach, regret & remorse. A new love? Can you love a mirage? Can you love the person in the mirror? Can you love someone you can't love? Or think you can't love? Can you love and live life even though it will always be somewhat hopeless? Yet isn't it exactly these hopes and dreams that keep us here grounded and in a spectrum of relative happiness? A lot of deep themes emerge and the final act brings people and ideas together to coalesce in an existential crisis with no clear cut solution, definitive decision or effective healing. Maybe a elusive thought, a fleeting feeling, but a lasting appreciation of life and of the artistry and intellect of the film. Live. Live again. Rewind the reel. Unveil the real, the important; the big stones (piedras) of life. The rest is just details.