Review of Mondays in the Sun (2002) by Andrew C — 03 Jan 2008

Another one of the dvd's I have on loan from a friend, this one has one of the same actors from the film I watched last night although this time he isn't as much of a bastard to his wife heh. The main attraction for this film is Javier Bardem (The Sea Inside, No Country For Old Men) but aside from him it's a pretty powerful tale of the working man and what happens when corporations layoff their work force chasing that ever important bottom line. Or maybe it's just because the land used for the shipping yard could be gentrified and rebuilt as luxury apartments for immigrants but hey what the hell.

Most of the film is four or five out of work 40 somethings trying to stave of boredom, alcoholism and desperation while looking for a job, hoping to win the lottery, refusing to pay for damaging a light outside their old workplace etc lots of little moments that add up to something more meaningful.

It's quite sad at times especially towards the end but I think the ending does leave you with some hope for them.

Some great performances too, especially Bardem (he won the Goya for best actor in 2002) yet I am baffled why Spain chose to put this as their foreign film choice for the Oscars in 2002 instead of Talk To Her which is undeniably a better film.

This one is worth a watch for sure though.