Review of Biutiful (2010) by Denise O — 17 Jan 2012

Javier Bardem is flawless in his portrayal of Uxbal a man who wants only to provide for his family and who's best intentions end with heartbreaking tragedy.

First there's his wife. Diagnosed with bipolar disease, she refuses to take her medication. Her erratic mood swings causes Uxbal to take their two children away from her. Will their true love for one another be enough in the end to give her opportunity to once again be united with her children in Uxbal's death?

Then there's the seedy business partnership with his brother. The two of them collaborate with Chinese sweatshop owners who repress their own by bringing them into Spain to manufacture knock off designer handbags which are, in turn, sold by Senagalese illegal immigrants on the streets of Barcelona. Uxbal recognizes the harsh conditions by which they all live and tries to improve upon their lives. Unfortunately things don't go as planned.

Will Uxbal be able to find one shred of happiness before he succumbs to death? I mean really, the man in one scene had to draw his own blood because the nurse was too incompetent to do it herself. Will he be able to find a happy, safe home for his children after he has gone? How will life go on for those who, in one way or another, he has affected?

Written and directed by Alejandro Innaritu (Babel, 21 Grams) this movie continues his themes of cultural awareness as seen through the eyes of different nationals; one event and how each, depending on their culture, reacts and how, as individuals, we all want the same regardless of where we are globally.

It was good to see a movie filmed in a tourist hot spot where that location was not a supporting role; where we can see the day to day lives of its inhabitants.

Of course I love Alejandro Innaritu and Javier Bardem (the man has great hair) and I will go see anything that either of them do. For those of you who want the happy endings, look elsewhere. For those of you who just want to see great film making and don't mind subtitles, then this is the film for you.