An inexplicable crack in the Pyrenees Mountains provokes excitement and scientific curiosity. As the geological fracture deepens and widens, the European community begins to disassociate ...
See full summary »
Our list of the best new movies and shows releasing in July includes Black Widow, "Ted Lasso” Season 2, and The Green Knight.
Turn back the clock and hit the beach with some of our favorite classic Hollywood stars.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: La balsa de piedra (2002)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
3 wins & 5 nominations.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Federico Luppi | ... | Pedro | |
| Icíar Bollaín | ... | Maria (as Iciar Bollain) | |
| Gabino Diego | ... | Jose | |
 |
Ana Padrão | ... | Joana (as Ana Padrao) |
| Diogo Infante | ... | Joaquim | |
| Antonia San Juan | ... | Ministra Enriquez | |
|
|
Rebeca Tébar | ... | Chica Del Peaje (as Rebeca Tebar) |
| Simon Chandler | ... | Primer Ministro Ingles | |
| Marques D'Arede | ... | Presidente de Portugal | |
| Manuel Galiana | ... | Primer Ministro Español | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Francisco Algora | ... | Capataz Espana | |
|
|
Raúl Cano | ... | Ayudante de Pedro |
|
|
Luís Castro | ... | Cientifico 3 |
|
|
Jose Luis Chavarria Perez | ... | Sismologo |
|
|
Sixto Cid | ... | Entrevistador |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (4) »
Storyline
An inexplicable crack in the Pyrenees Mountains provokes excitement and scientific curiosity. As the geological fracture deepens and widens, the European community begins to disassociate itself from the calamity, and panic ensues among tourists and residents attempting to escape. When Spain and Portugal physically separate from the continent, the detached Iberian peninsula aimlessly floats off to sea, becoming home to a group of god-like humans. Written by Erwin van Moll <max404@hotmail.com>
Plot Keywords:
female nudity | full frontal female nudity | road movie | based on novel |Taglines:
A strange journey of discovery in a world set adrift.Certificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
Director's cameo: George Sluizer plays the fanatic football fan entering the pitch during the game's half-time interval, carrying a banner with the text 'We are Iberians too'. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
19 September 2002 (Netherlands) See more »Also Known As:
A Jangada de Pedra See more »Filming Locations:
Almería, Andalucía, SpainEdit
Box Office
Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$329,766Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Don't be put off from this one. I'll try not to mislead: First, this is a *fable*, an allegorical story no, not pretentious myth, and not at all meant to be taken literally (or technically!). Also, I don't think it's meant to be an "art film." Don't take it so seriously... but then again, take it seriously in another way; it is a cautionary tale.
Also, it was meant primarily for a European audience. Don't ask it to be a brash and blunt American movie. (Compare and contrast it, as an exercise, with the satiric tone found in "Wag the Dog.") Its tone is more like that of "Life Is Beautiful" perhaps, if you need comparison, but not as hokey.
Okay, it's a disaster film, yes, but it's also a love story with a point. It's light but it uses satire, and I can even almost see it rolling its eyes at the "reviewers" who smirk at its "lack of continuity" and "technical errors" - they miss the point, and likely have missed the boat which has already departed. (Hence the film's title.) (Don't look now, but in some ways, the world's already begun splitting beneath our feet...) I also don't know where the IMDb page's film description comes from (about "...a group of god-like humans"); absurd. But as it is with all fables, myths, or symbols, our pronouncements say more about us than about the item we discuss.
Go to the "external reviews" link, at the left, and read the sensible review by Roger Ebert, or the Village Voice's description ("... strikes a delicate balance between magical realism and biting political satire in this engaging allegory of failed pan-European aspirations").
Like those reviewers, I found the film highly enjoyable, full of heart and sincere, and having a great European sense of humor. I found myself wondering, as Mr. Ebert did, about things it brought up: about fault-finding (pun intended), about chaos theory, about the EU, and about what really matters ... and about what happens when we drift apart.