OK, this film is one of my all-time favorites! I was fortunate to catch a midnight screening of it while working in Seville, Spain. It was so engaging and enjoyable that I went the next night and the night after that. The next day it was out of the theatres and gone, forever. Since 1997 I have been trying to find a copy for my own personal collection, but also info on who owns the rights to the film (distribution) so as to show it at our film festival in town if not local theatres.
The characters are fantastic, and the cast is tremendous. The film depicts a small Spanish town in the province of Zaragoza during the early Franco years of his dictatorship (and censorship!) The story follows two young boys (brothers) who are orphaned and sent to live with their uncles and grandfather. The grandfather is the coolest character.
This film deserves to be re-discovered. I've written emails to Criterion Collection for years about picking this film up along with other valuable, classic, and fantastic Spanish films: Los Tarantos; La Tia Tula; Simon del desierto; Bienvenidos Mr. Marshal! Francesc Bellmunt directs a great film. If anyone knows about who to contact regarding distribution or to get a DVD copy of the film, please post notice.
