Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

lastliberal This is a period piece bringing together some of the greatest writers, directors, and actors of the Spanish theater.Benito Pérez Galdós' novel was first made into film in 1925, five years after his death. Galdos has written many works that have made it to film, and the fact that one is redone is testament to his writing skill.José Luis Garci is one of Spain's greatest writers and directors, and has many shelves full of awards to prove it.Fernando Fernán Gómez, who plays the lead in this film, also has shelves full of awards for his acting (over 200 roles), writing, and directing skills. He plays a man who returns from Peru determined to find his rightful heir between the daughters of his philandering daughter-in-law (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo).This is not an easy task as he is broke and his daughter-in-law has the whole town on her side because of the money her husband left her.The scene where he called them all out was magnificent! The scene where his granddaughter Dolly (Cristina Cruz) laid down the law was breathtaking.This was a beautiful film that my poor words cannot even begin to describe.

gradyharp EL ABUELO (The Grandfather) began as a 1954 novel by Benito Pérez Galdós and was adapted for the screen by writer/director José Luis Garci in 1998, a year when it was nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar. It is a period piece of epic proportions, an immensely beautiful work both visually and emotionally, that assures the film's becoming a beloved standard in the cinematic library.Don Rodrigo de Arista Potestad (Fernando Fernán Gómez, the brilliant Peruvian actor from such films as 'Butterfly', 'Belle Epoque', 'All About My Mother, etc) is a crusty old aristocrat who has been in America for the Gold Rush who returns to Spain (a small town of Jerusa) when his son dies. He concern is about a letter his son wrote to him that one of his two granddaughters was sired by another man, an artist, and the old man is determined to find out which one of the granddaughters should rightfully inherit is name and his money. He arrives to meet Dolly (Cristina Cruz) and Nelly (Cristina Cruz) and their beautiful mother Doña Lucrecia (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo), a woman who has survived emotional hardships but has generously favored the small town with gifts while giving her daughters in home schooling by the intelligent, sensitive Don Pío Coronado (Rafael Alonso) who has been forsaken by his own family. The once butler of the home Senén Corchado (Agustín González) has been freed to become an oily capitalist, eager to squander the family money.Don Rodrigo (Abuelo) challenges the family to maintain the honor of his name, becomes fast friends with Don Pío, and the two set about to discover whether it is Dolly or Nelly that is the true bloodline granddaughter. The manner in which the investigation proceeds includes the warm relationship Abuelo forms with the girls, the way he decides the future of Lucrecia, and the bonding he forms with Pío. It is Pío who challenges Abuelo with the question of which is more important, honor or love, and it is this question that suffuses the resolution of the story with surprises and with extraordinary tenderness.The actors are all superb with special kudos to Fernando Fernán Gómez and Rafael Alonso. The cinematography of the coastlines of Spain is breathtakingly beautiful and the manner in which Raúl Pérez Cubero frames his images glows. The original musical score is by Manuel Balboa whose love theme is hauntingly played by both piano and orchestra: the moments of music by Satie (Gymnopédie) and Elgar (the Nimrod variation from Enigma Variations) are beautifully performed by the Madrid Orchestra under the baton of Ángel Gil Ordóñez. The film is long (well over two hours) and there are some synchrony defects in the spoken soundtrack (?dubbing for the granddaughters' voices?), but these are minor flaws in an eloquently beautiful film. In Spanish with English subtitles. Grady Harp

anne guiling I've seen this movie during the Spanish Film Fest in the Philippinesand I loved it! It has been my favorite movie ever since. The movie isreally touching. When I was watching it, my heart really felt heavy. Itwill make you think if you've been nice to your old grandpa. Whateverthe price of the ticket will be, I can assure that it will be worth it!Unlike other movies, this one has a lot of twist in it, that's why it'sso exciting and engaging. You'll never know who's the real granddaughter unless you watch it! =)OTHER REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH IT! * It has a great cinematography. * You'll never know what happens next, unlike other movies! * Unpredictable events. * Nice location * Good shots * A lot of quotable quotes that you can keep.

supertoton Benito Pérez Galdós is considered (with Miguel de Cervantes) the best Spanish writer and, in fact, if you read one of his books I assure you'll read more. Adapted by lots of directors, like Luis Buñuel, now was the time of the greatest Spanish director alive (José Luis Garci) to film one of the prettiest dramas ever made. And for "The Grandfather" José Luis Garci had the help of a genius (not only an actor, also a writer, director, ...): Fenando Fernán Gómez, his name is a legend alive. So with the text of Galdós, the art of Garci and the character of Fernán Gómez what can you have? A piece of art.