Biutiful (2010)

another great film by Alejandro Iñárritu

Director: Alejandro Iñárritu

 

This director has been known for his unparalleled films such as Amores perros, 21 Grams, and Babel.

 

This movie was shot in Barcelona, Spain and you see places ranging from the slums to the majestic Sagradia Familia of Antonio Gaudí.  It focuses on the life of Uxbal (Javier Bardem) who is struggling to survive and deal tenderly with his two children, Ana (Hanaa Bouchaib) and Mateo (Guillermo Estrella). His estranged and bi-polar wife is Marambra (Maricel Álvarez), a massage therapist.  He must also deal with the underworld of the city.  Other prominent themes in the film are guilt and spirituality.

 

He tries to do good, but he falters in disastrous ways, such as making the mistake of buying a bunch of cheap space heaters to warm the basement where illegal Chinese workers are housed. Of course, with no ventilation, the inhabitants are suffocated, and the sleazy Chinese who are in charge of them, and are responsible, dump the bodies in the ocean, where they ultimately wash ashore.  Uxbal also has a relationship with a Senegalese woman, Ige, who is very poor and finally leaves Spain before she is deported. Ultimately, he finds out that he is dying from cancer.

 

The film is very powerful and should be seen. The title is the answer that Uxbal gives to Ana when she asks how you spell the word, “Beautiful.”

 

In addition to the source music, the lyrical score is by Gustavo Santaolalla.

Author's Note

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