This 1996 Spanish film follows the familiar story of the teenage son looking for his real father. In this case, the 17 year old boy is played by Eloy Azorin, now famous as the ill-fated son in ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER. In this, his screen debut, he embodies the role of the estranged son very convincingly. The acting is excellent throughout the film. Santiago Ramos, one of Spain's best character actors, is perfect in the role of the sought-after father, as is Assumpta Serna as the mother. The cinematography is outstanding, making the most of picturesque locations in Madrid's upper class residential neighborhoods, in the city itself, and particularly the Canary Islands. The strong direction (winner of Best Director Award at the 1999/97 Miami Hispanic Film Festival) binds the other outstanding elements to make a good entertaining film from a story which has been overworked as any in film history; otherwise the film would be just one more in the genre. But the movie does stand out amongst the son-seeking-father genre, and is definitely worth watching, particularly if you follow Spanish cinema.
Review of Como un relámpago
