As the story begins, Santiago, a handsome man, is marrying the attractive Amparo. After the ceremony, we watch as Santiago takes home another woman. What's going on here, one wonders? Well, it turns out it is a marriage of convenience because Amparo would like to adopt a baby, something a single woman in Argentina doesn't have a chance in getting.
In Madrid, people are preparing for the New Year's celebration. Pedro and Gloria, a couple of a certain age, are preparing to celebrate the occasion. They appear to have no friends, so they invite the maid and her family. Their tradition calls for sending balloons up in the sky with wishes attached to them. Pedro, a leftist literature professor, with a son named Fidel, has a strange relationship with Gloria. They appear to be in a sort of arrangement for the sake of companionship more than from being in love.
Two worlds apart, one in Spain, the other in Argentina, are more interconnected in spite of the action taking place separately. After all, they are family. When Gloria becomes ill, both sides come together to try to resolve their differences, even though Pedro and his son remain far from each other.
"Tocar al cielo" is a complex character study of a family living in two continents. Marcos Carnevale, who directed, as well as collaborated with the screenplay, shows he has talent for bringing all the elements in the film together, although the story is somewhat disorienting at times. It's hard to understand how Gloria goes from being diagnosed with cancer to being in the last stages of the disease in no time. It is also baffling the situation between Pedro, a man who should know better, and his son Fidel, or for that matter, with his own mother, Imperio.
In spite of all these questions, the film shows inspired performances by the all the principals. Chete Lara's Pedro is a bit over the top, as the eccentric aging professor. Bettiana Blum, an excellent Argentine actress appears as Gloria. The gorgeous Veronica Echegui who was so good as Juani in Bigas Luna's "Yo soy la Juani" has a small, but interesting role as Elena, the young woman student that ends up falling in love for Pedro. The great China Zorrilla makes the most of her Imperio and manages to show the matriarch she really is. Montse German is appealing as Amparo and Facundo Arana does a good job as Santiago.
Best of all was the musical score by Lito Vitale that adds texture to the narrative. Juan Carlos Gomez crisp cinematography makes an elegant contribution to the film. We shall look forward to Mr. Carnevale's new projects in the future.
In Madrid, people are preparing for the New Year's celebration. Pedro and Gloria, a couple of a certain age, are preparing to celebrate the occasion. They appear to have no friends, so they invite the maid and her family. Their tradition calls for sending balloons up in the sky with wishes attached to them. Pedro, a leftist literature professor, with a son named Fidel, has a strange relationship with Gloria. They appear to be in a sort of arrangement for the sake of companionship more than from being in love.
Two worlds apart, one in Spain, the other in Argentina, are more interconnected in spite of the action taking place separately. After all, they are family. When Gloria becomes ill, both sides come together to try to resolve their differences, even though Pedro and his son remain far from each other.
"Tocar al cielo" is a complex character study of a family living in two continents. Marcos Carnevale, who directed, as well as collaborated with the screenplay, shows he has talent for bringing all the elements in the film together, although the story is somewhat disorienting at times. It's hard to understand how Gloria goes from being diagnosed with cancer to being in the last stages of the disease in no time. It is also baffling the situation between Pedro, a man who should know better, and his son Fidel, or for that matter, with his own mother, Imperio.
In spite of all these questions, the film shows inspired performances by the all the principals. Chete Lara's Pedro is a bit over the top, as the eccentric aging professor. Bettiana Blum, an excellent Argentine actress appears as Gloria. The gorgeous Veronica Echegui who was so good as Juani in Bigas Luna's "Yo soy la Juani" has a small, but interesting role as Elena, the young woman student that ends up falling in love for Pedro. The great China Zorrilla makes the most of her Imperio and manages to show the matriarch she really is. Montse German is appealing as Amparo and Facundo Arana does a good job as Santiago.
Best of all was the musical score by Lito Vitale that adds texture to the narrative. Juan Carlos Gomez crisp cinematography makes an elegant contribution to the film. We shall look forward to Mr. Carnevale's new projects in the future.