Dark Blue Almost Black (2006)

After a prank followed by an argument with his father, who is the janitor of the building where they live and wants his son to follow his profession, the teenager Jorge (Quim Gutiérrez) witnesses his father having a stroke. Seven years later, Jorge is graduated in management with self-study, but he is stuck in life, working as janitor and taking care of his handicapped father. Jorge seeks a better job in the area he graduated, but he never lies about his duties as a janitor and the health of his father in the interviews; consequently he does not succeed in getting a new job. When his childhood girlfriend Natalia (Eva Pallarés) returns to her apartment after finishing college, Jorge has an inferiority complex but they stay together. Meanwhile his older brother Antonio (Antonio De la Torre) is in jail and falls in love for the inmate Paula (Marta Etura), who wants to get pregnant to be entitled to move to the nursery and escape from the violent mates. When Antonio finds that he is infertile, he asks Jorge to help Paula to get pregnant. Meanwhile his best friend Israel (Raúl Arévalo) discloses a secret about his father while snooping the building on the other side of the street.

'Azuloscurocasinegro" is a sweet and very pleasant movie with a good and original story, but the conclusion is weak. Most of the characters are somehow prisoners: Jorge in his mediocre life; his father on the wheelchair; Antonio and Paula in jail; Israel with his dysfunctional family in his father's house. Natalia is her past relationship with Jorge. The lead character Jorge actually lives in a limbo, stuck in his guilty and inferiority complex with his father. This is the second great work that I see of the gorgeous actress Marta Etura, unfortunately unknown in Brazil. She is an excellent actress and I love to see her beauty and charm while acting. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Azul Escuro Quase Preto" ("Dark Blue Almost Black")

Fmovies: I tend to go and see quite many Spanish movies these days. There are more and more reaching the theaters of Budapest, which means the demand for them must have risen. No wonder, since they are very special in the aspect that they can deal with dramatic, sexual and tense situations with ease by always splicing a good deal of black humour, some playful and lovable credulity even into the darkest of plots. However, Darkbluealmostblack stays very stark and grave even with the efforts of trying to tune it down a little bit with a few honest laughters and gigs. A young, shy but capable adult having to take care of his crippled father from virtually no money while his brother is in prison trying to strike up a relationship with a female inmate who only needs somebody to have a baby with is just a little too much misery crowded in one tiny spot of the world. And this is just to start off with. Daniel Sanchez Arevalo took it way too seriously this time making the movie really turn from dark blue to black. It is definitely not going to light your day up. So, be careful with choosing your company for this one.

Entertaining and uplifting Spanish drama with emotion , family life and twisted situations . It's an agreeable , moving film , compellingly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship among siblings and their mentally-handicapped dad . Nice and enticing Dramedy -charming drama along with a little comedy- about the close relationships among the members of a particular family . It deals with Jorge (Quim Gutiérrez) a good guy who cares his father and attempts to find a nice job . This undertaking is complicated by the fact he takes care of his wheelchair-bounded daddy (Héctor Colome who recently passed away , being in real life stepfather to director) who suffered a stroke seven years before . His soon-to-be-released sibling named Antonio (Antonio De La Torre) who in a stage rehearsal meets a beautiful girl named Paula (Marta Etura) ; the latter wants to get pregnant to free herself the hard conditions and mistreating in the dangerous prison . When Antonio finds out he's infertile, Jorge is asked to make Paula pregnant . To make the dilemma even heavier , Jorge's childhood girlfriend Natalia (Eva Pallares) goes back after many years ago and events go wrong . Meanwhile, Jorge's best friend Israel (Raul Arévalo) secretly from a penthouse photographs people visiting an erotic masseur named Roberto (Roberto Enriquez) , discovering an unexpected surprise .

This is an enjoyable film with entertaining events , emotion , plot twists and triangular love stories . Slightly fun drama with some touches of humor and several surprises . The flick gives a deep description about lives of people of the lower classes , dealing with a peculiar and dysfunctional family under the focus of a young janitor , his brother , their handicapped father and their girlfriends . The movie tries to expand some fine sense about this particular family such as brotherhood , help and love , including its funny aspects as well as thought-provoking or brooding sides . The roles in this film are all lovable despite being rather unlucky and unfortunate characters . The cast is frankly fabulous such as Quim Gutiérrez as Jorge who is a 25-year old janitor who desperately attempts to find himself a new , and particularly better , job , Antonio De La Torre as his brother who met a girlfriend , Paula , well played by Marta Etura , in jail , Héctor Colomé as their handicapped daddy who had a hart infarct several years earlier and Raul Arévalo as his best friend who from attic photographs neighbours to find out something he didn't bargain for . The tale narrated in sensitivity and intelligence and are treated some ethic and moral issues developed in a nice sense and great ductility . The film attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , in spite of distresses , with its amusing sides and dark areas . Support cast is pretty well such as Eva Pallarés as Natalia , Ana Wagener as Ana , Manuel Morón as Fernando , Alex O'Dogherty , Roberto Enríquez and Julián Villagrán . Lively and sensitive Original Music by by Pascal Gaigne . Colorful and evocative Cinematography by Juan Carlos Gómez . The film achieved many prizes such as Goya Awards 2007 : Best New Director Daniel Sánchez Arévalo , Best Supporting Actor , Antonio de la Torre , Best New Actor , Quim Gutiérrez ; Málaga Spanish Film Festival 2006 in which won Silver Biznaga : Best Screenplay Daniel Sánchez Arévalo and Special Jury Award Daniel Sánchez Arévalo . Furthermore , it had a lot of awards and nominations in several Festivals as Santa Barbara Internationa

Dark Blue Almost Black fmovies. The blues, dark, almost black... That's Daniel Sánchez Arévalo's message in his new highly rewarded azuloscurocasinegro. It happens to be the same color as the suit Jorge (Quim Gutiérrez) is dreaming of. This suit represents his freedom. Jorge's father has suffered a stroke and Jorge himself has to take care of him and the janitor duties he is now unable to do. In the meantime Jorge's brother (Antonio De la Torre) - who is in jail, falls in love with a girl called Paula (Marta Etura) he meets in prison. Jorge's friend Israel (Raúl Arévalo) is discovering secrets about his father and himself.

The life Jorge lives withholds his self-development, and retains his freedom. He obtained his management degree with self-study, but it's impossible for him to get the job he wants, because of his duties: his father and the janitor-job. He's in love with his neighbor girl (Eva Pallarés), but thinks a true relationship is impossible, because she is free an he is stuck in there. The movie itself is set in the same dark blue color setting, but it never gets too moody. there is a nice balance between the emotions (there are some really funny parts with Israel and with Jorge's brother Antonio), joined by a very decent score. The story never gets into extremes: the emotions are subtle but real. The characters are well developed (especially Jorge's and Paula's), and deep enough to be able to feel with them. Newcomer Daniel Sánchez Arévalo brings us a delicate story with a smile and a tear.

Jorge (Quim Gutiérrez) is stuck in a dead-end job and with an unrequited long-term love for the girl next door. His father has suffered a stroke and needs constant supervision, which Jorge alone manages. His brother is in prison. His best friend is contemplating his sexuality. In short, he is the epitome of a "nice guy" – the kind who is too nice to lie, cheat or think in even remotely self-serving paths. In Arévalo's directorial debut, we are offered a slice of his protagonist's life – to no discernible end, but still a worthwhile watch.

The latter can best be attributed to the film's preference of continuity to climaxes. It offers next to no culminations, 'key' scenes or satisfying plot development and instead presents a highly low-key story that takes a gentle yet unflinching look at a young man's life. Quim Gutiérrez is handsome, affable and intrinsically good as Jorge, giving a sweet little performance that is just a smidge to humourless to wow the audience or even go the extra mile. None of the other actors are particularly noteworthy, although Raúl Arévalo caters to the comedy part which undoubtedly elevates the whole film above generic drama formula. Make no mistake however – it is no comedy.

Azuloscurocasinegro is also one of the calmest films I have ever seen. seen. It is neither boring nor slow, but the pacing is peaceful and there is an underlying tranquility in the seamless intercutting of scenes, without resorting to dreamy cinematography or soothing nature shots. I suppose that is another way of saying not much happens in it, which is certainly quite true, but there is some emotional poignancy to be found, some sex scenes to be 'enjoyed' and above all remarkably insightful dialogue to be shared. It delivers little gems by the bucketload, puffed full of actual wisdom – best of all, it never feels forced. In the end, Azuloscurocasinegro is quite forgettable, but a sweet viewing nonetheless.

7 out of 10