‘Biutiful’ an honest and powerful film

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Cast: Javier Bardem, Marciel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchail

Cert: 15

There have been decidedly mixed critical reviews for this grim, dark film but there can be no doubts that once again Bardem shows what a splendid actor he is.

Here he plays Uxbal, a single father estranged from his unfaithful and bipolar wife (Alvarez), living on the crime-ridden fringes of a downbeat life in Barcelona, taking money from bereaved families for conveying messages from the departed and facing his own departure through cancer and thus seeking someone to look after his children.

Life for Uxbal is not sweet, and director Inarritu doesn’t stint with his gloomy examination of the character’s dilemma … but he does it with observant honesty and brings home a powerfully thoughtful film.

Star Rating: 4/5