A boy from an abusive home finds a new lease on life through friendship in this drama from Spain. Pablo (Juan Jose Ballesta) is a 12-year-old boy growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood in Madrid. Pablo doesn't have many friends, and his home life is not happy -- his father Mariano (Manuel Maron) often beats him, and his mother Aurora (Golria Munoz) doesn't know what to do about it. Alfredo (Pablo Galan) is a new boy in town who has just enrolled in Pablo's class at school; Pablo and
Alfredo strike up an immediate friendship, and Pablo feels comfortable with Alfredo's family, particularly his father Jose (Alberto Gimenez), who draws tattoos for a living, and his mother Marisa (Nieve de Medina). Alfredo's godfather has been hospitalized with AIDS-related illnesses, and when Alfredo goes to visit him, Pablo tags along, which angers Mariano and leads to another violent episode. Alfredo notices Pablo's bruises and tells his parents, and Jose enlists a social worker, Laura (Ana Wagener), to help find a safer environment for the boy. El Bola was produced in association with UNICEF. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
At once subtle and visceral, the film never succumbs to the trap of the maudlin or tearful, offering instead with its unflinching gaze a measure of faith in the future.
Though uniformly well acted, especially by young Ballesta and Galan (a first-time actor), writer/director Achero Manas's film is schematic and obvious.
Reminiscent of The 400 Blows, this is a powerful story about child abuse and the positive impact of friendship. Achero Mañas coaxes exceptional performances from his young actors. A sad but effective film.
January 12, 2009
Randy Tippy
Super Reviewer
Children abuse was never an easy topic to get into when telling a story due to the fact its a very sensitive issue to show on screen.Spanish director Achero Mañas movie EL BOLA, winners of the 2001 Goya Awards, showed here the issue of child abuse, and how okay it was that the father imposed his power over his family,
because he was the breadwinner and he was always right. This movie showed growing up, friendship, despair and hope. The game the boys played at the train tracks came over as a death wish, because their lives were miserable.Alfredo the newcomer who had a normal life found the game stupid and refused to play.This was a difference with the other children,because he was raised by loving parents.Acting was perfect and cinematography was amazing. Pablo was really good in his role. I wondered how the ending would be, and it was perfect.
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